var g_txt=[
{t:"The Land of Gold",p:2,x:33,y:42,w:99,h:14},
{t:"by Colin Holcombe",p:2,x:33,y:62,w:108,h:14},
{t:"© 2007",p:2,x:33,y:82,w:42,h:14},
{t:"‘The Land of Gold’ is a work of fiction. Names,",p:2,x:33,y:102,w:262,h:14},
{t:"characters, places and incidents are products of",p:2,x:33,y:122,w:273,h:14},
{t:"the author ’s imagination, and any resemblance to",p:2,x:33,y:142,w:278,h:14},
{t:"actual events, locales and persons, living or",p:2,x:33,y:162,w:246,h:14},
{t:"dead, is entirely coincidental.",p:2,x:33,y:182,w:163,h:14},
{t:"Published by Ocaso Press Ltda.",p:2,x:33,y:342,w:183,h:14},
{t:"Santiago, Chile. All rights reserved.",p:2,x:33,y:362,w:200,h:14},
{t:"No part of this book may be used or reproduced",p:2,x:33,y:402,w:271,h:14},
{t:"in any manner whatsoever without written per-",p:2,x:33,y:422,w:259,h:14},
{t:"mission, except in the case of brief quotations in",p:2,x:33,y:442,w:273,h:14},
{t:"critical articles and reviews.",p:2,x:33,y:462,w:155,h:14},
{t:"THE LAND OF GOLD",p:3,x:99,y:182,w:179,h:24},
{t:"—A NOVEL—",p:3,x:131,y:303,w:115,h:24},
{t:"Colin Holcombe",p:3,x:115,y:424,w:146,h:21},
{t:"1",p:4,x:185,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:" CHAPTER ONE",p:4,x:107,y:190,w:163,h:27},
{t:"t was now almost dark, and Henshall transferred",p:4,x:61,y:255,w:274,h:14},
{t:"his attention to a g roup at a nearby table, noticing",p:4,x:42,y:276,w:292,h:14},
{t:"on looking up that the party-giver had left her bois-",p:4,x:42,y:296,w:293,h:14},
{t:"terous companions. Then she was back, strolling",p:4,x:42,y:317,w:292,h:14},
{t:"away from him, shawl draped on her shoulders.",p:4,x:42,y:338,w:292,h:14},
{t:"Exasperated, he propped the sketch pad on a",p:4,x:42,y:359,w:293,h:14},
{t:"chair, and went to help himself to the next course,",p:4,x:42,y:380,w:293,h:14},
{t:"seeing the woman now making her exit, waving to",p:4,x:42,y:400,w:294,h:14},
{t:"guests as she climbed the flower-hung steps to",p:4,x:42,y:421,w:294,h:14},
{t:"disappear into the foyer.",p:4,x:42,y:442,w:136,h:14},
{t:"Henshall finished his meal and looked out. The",p:4,x:61,y:466,w:274,h:14},
{t:"palms rose dark against the sky, and the candle",p:4,x:42,y:487,w:294,h:14},
{t:"2",p:5,x:175,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"lights on tables bobbed and glimmered across the",p:5,x:33,y:42,w:294,h:14},
{t:"lawn until lost in the pale expanse that marked the",p:5,x:33,y:63,w:294,h:14},
{t:"beach. Whatever the commercialism, he thought,",p:5,x:33,y:84,w:292,h:14},
{t:"or the threadbare poverty of its villages, Bali was",p:5,x:33,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"still the fabulous east, and he could see why expa-",p:5,x:33,y:126,w:293,h:14},
{t:"triates were drawn to the exot ic, even to women",p:5,x:33,y:146,w:293,h:14},
{t:"who lacked the nuances of understanding that kept",p:5,x:33,y:167,w:293,h:14},
{t:"couples together. For an hour he tried to sketch the",p:5,x:33,y:188,w:293,h:14},
{t:"scene, but when the gamelan orchestra packed up,",p:5,x:33,y:209,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and there was only the odd tourist left, Henshall",p:5,x:33,y:230,w:292,h:14},
{t:"settled the bill and walked the three m iles back to",p:5,x:33,y:250,w:293,h:14},
{t:"his own lodgings through a night still warm and",p:5,x:33,y:271,w:293,h:14},
{t:"smelling of frangipani and dry leaves.",p:5,x:33,y:292,w:210,h:14},
{t:"A mist blotted out the view when he woke the",p:5,x:51,y:316,w:274,h:14},
{t:"following morning. He pulled on a sweater and sat",p:5,x:33,y:337,w:293,h:14},
{t:"on the veranda, ordering a nasi goreng when the",p:5,x:33,y:358,w:294,h:14},
{t:"houseboy appeared under a dripping green um-",p:5,x:33,y:379,w:293,h:14},
{t:"brella. A couple of women went by with bundles of",p:5,x:33,y:400,w:292,h:14},
{t:"vegetables on their heads, and there were several",p:5,x:33,y:420,w:293,h:14},
{t:"of the small dogs of Bali, padding warily past with",p:5,x:33,y:441,w:292,h:14},
{t:"their usual craven and preoccupied air. The morn-",p:5,x:33,y:462,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ing grew chilly as he finished his meal, but the trip",p:5,x:33,y:483,w:293,h:14},
{t:"3",p:6,x:185,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"was one he was funding himself, and he went out",p:6,x:42,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"as though prospecting, for all that mineral explora-",p:6,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"tion was tiresome, moving him on before he could",p:6,x:42,y:84,w:292,h:14},
{t:"absorb his surroundings.",p:6,x:42,y:105,w:142,h:14},
{t:"In the afternoon he rode over to the Bali Beach",p:6,x:61,y:129,w:274,h:14},
{t:"Hotel, where he joined guests returned from",p:6,x:42,y:150,w:293,h:14},
{t:"rained-off tours. A weak sun glowed on the metal",p:6,x:42,y:170,w:293,h:14},
{t:"table as he sat with a couple of English women",p:6,x:42,y:191,w:293,h:14},
{t:"comparing handicraft prices. Henshall drank his tea",p:6,x:42,y:212,w:293,h:14},
{t:"slowly, and leafed through the guidebook, wonder-",p:6,x:42,y:233,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ing who’d advise him on the village festivals so",p:6,x:42,y:254,w:293,h:14},
{t:"lavishly photographed. When the women left, still",p:6,x:42,y:275,w:293,h:14},
{t:"complaining about local practices, Henshall read",p:6,x:42,y:296,w:293,h:14},
{t:"on and was not sure what the voice had said, or",p:6,x:42,y:316,w:294,h:14},
{t:"whether it had asked anything at all. ‘You",p:6,x:42,y:337,w:245,h:14},
{t:"’re more",p:6,x:287,y:337,w:48,h:14},
{t:"than welcome’, he said. ‘I’m leaving shortly.’ The",p:6,x:42,y:358,w:293,h:14},
{t:"voice behind him laughed and said, ‘That’s not",p:6,x:42,y:379,w:293,h:14},
{t:"what I meant.’ Perhaps his surprise showed, for the",p:6,x:42,y:400,w:294,h:14},
{t:"face gleamed with mischief, the water glistening on",p:6,x:42,y:420,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the long eyelashes. ‘You don ’t recognize me, but I",p:6,x:42,y:441,w:292,h:14},
{t:"know you.’ Henshall opened his mouth to reply, but",p:6,x:42,y:462,w:293,h:14},
{t:"she was already sauntering off, down the tiled",p:6,x:42,y:483,w:293,h:14},
{t:"4",p:7,x:175,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"steps to the swimming pool. All that day and the",p:7,x:33,y:42,w:294,h:14},
{t:"days following, Henshall could see in his mind the",p:7,x:33,y:63,w:295,h:14},
{t:"extraordinary face with the dark eyes, the features",p:7,x:33,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"laughing at him, but their owner didn’t reappear.",p:7,x:33,y:105,w:270,h:14},
{t:"It was in a small village in the hills where he was",p:7,x:51,y:129,w:275,h:14},
{t:"sketching four of the little girls waiting to receive a",p:7,x:33,y:150,w:294,h:14},
{t:"sprinkling of holy water before their Legong dance,",p:7,x:33,y:170,w:293,h:14},
{t:"that someone settled beside him and took the pad",p:7,x:33,y:191,w:293,h:14},
{t:"from his hand. He knew the identity, even before",p:7,x:33,y:212,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the playful voice said, ‘This will get you into trouble,",p:7,x:33,y:233,w:293,h:14},
{t:"my friend.’ Henshall let her flip through the sketch",p:7,x:33,y:254,w:293,h:14},
{t:"pad, watching her turn the pages round to study",p:7,x:33,y:275,w:294,h:14},
{t:"them carefully. ",p:7,x:33,y:296,w:93,h:14},
{t:"‘Where am I?’ she asked. ‘These",p:7,x:125,y:296,w:201,h:14},
{t:"aren’t bad, but what have you done with me?’ Hen-",p:7,x:33,y:316,w:293,h:14},
{t:"shall explained that her studies were in another",p:7,x:33,y:337,w:293,h:14},
{t:"pad, a smaller one he kept for social occasions.",p:7,x:33,y:358,w:292,h:14},
{t:"For spying, she decided: why else would he draw?",p:7,x:33,y:379,w:285,h:14},
{t:"‘It’s harmless enough’, said Henshall. ‘Trains",p:7,x:51,y:403,w:274,h:14},
{t:"the eye.’",p:7,x:33,y:424,w:47,h:14},
{t:"‘It is not harmless to us.’",p:7,x:51,y:448,w:138,h:14},
{t:"‘Something to talk about at lunch perhaps?’",p:7,x:51,y:472,w:245,h:14},
{t:"5",p:8,x:185,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"‘Oh that is much too forward’, she said. You",p:8,x:61,y:42,w:275,h:14},
{t:"must introduce yourself properly when you invite",p:8,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"someone out in Bali.’",p:8,x:42,y:84,w:117,h:14},
{t:"‘Peter Henshall. Whom do I have the pleasure",p:8,x:61,y:108,w:274,h:14},
{t:"of addressing?’",p:8,x:42,y:129,w:88,h:14},
{t:"‘Hartini Sujono’, replied the woman, springing to",p:8,x:61,y:153,w:274,h:14},
{t:"her feet and again laughing at him.",p:8,x:42,y:174,w:197,h:14},
{t:"When they were sat in a local eating-house,",p:8,x:61,y:198,w:274,h:14},
{t:"Hartini prodding the old crone into frying some fish",p:8,x:42,y:219,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and sending off for fresh papaya, Henshall could",p:8,x:42,y:240,w:293,h:14},
{t:"look more closely at the arrival. Not wholly Java-",p:8,x:42,y:260,w:294,h:14},
{t:"nese, he realized, but taller, a straighter nose and",p:8,x:42,y:281,w:292,h:14},
{t:"jaw, with a warmer complexion, and an openness",p:8,x:42,y:302,w:292,h:14},
{t:"that seemed to surround and take possession of",p:8,x:42,y:323,w:292,h:14},
{t:"what he was saying—when it cared to, and wasn’t",p:8,x:42,y:344,w:293,h:14},
{t:"holding itself for his inspection and admiration.",p:8,x:42,y:365,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Henshall brought the conversation back to their",p:8,x:42,y:386,w:292,h:14},
{t:"surroundings, to the village with its straggle of",p:8,x:42,y:406,w:292,h:14},
{t:"dusty coconut palms and the terraces of padi that",p:8,x:42,y:427,w:293,h:14},
{t:"towered above them, fresh and green in the after-",p:8,x:42,y:448,w:292,h:14},
{t:"noon light.",p:8,x:42,y:469,w:59,h:14},
{t:"6",p:9,x:175,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"‘Think I was looking for you?’ countered the head,",p:9,x:51,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"turning on him again.",p:9,x:33,y:63,w:119,h:14},
{t:"‘Just wondered how you got here.’",p:9,x:51,y:87,w:193,h:14},
{t:"‘Hired a car. You came here yesterday as well,",p:9,x:51,y:111,w:274,h:14},
{t:"didn’t you?’ She pointed a fork. ‘The young man",p:9,x:33,y:132,w:293,h:14},
{t:"who makes pictures.’",p:9,x:33,y:153,w:120,h:14},
{t:"‘Wouldn’t go on too much about the young man.",p:9,x:51,y:177,w:274,h:14},
{t:"He’s a good bit older than you.’",p:9,x:33,y:198,w:175,h:14},
{t:"‘Hartini is twenty-seven.’",p:9,x:51,y:222,w:137,h:14},
{t:"‘And Peter is thirty-four.’",p:9,x:51,y:246,w:137,h:14},
{t:"The woman whistled. ‘Thirty-four’, she mocked,",p:9,x:51,y:270,w:274,h:14},
{t:"drawing out the syllables. ‘A man of distinction, of",p:9,x:33,y:291,w:292,h:14},
{t:"mature years. With many children: banyak anak-",p:9,x:33,y:312,w:292,h:14},
{t:"anak?’",p:9,x:33,y:333,w:37,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m not married as it happens. Is that wrong?’",p:9,x:51,y:357,w:259,h:14},
{t:"‘It is irresponsible. A man should always marry",p:9,x:51,y:381,w:274,h:14},
{t:"and have children, even if he doesn’t care for",p:9,x:33,y:402,w:293,h:14},
{t:"women. Never been tempted?’",p:9,x:33,y:423,w:172,h:14},
{t:"‘Not for a while’, he said, reaching for the pa-",p:9,x:51,y:447,w:274,h:14},
{t:"paya.",p:9,x:33,y:468,w:32,h:14},
{t:"7",p:10,x:185,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"‘Is that a broken heart?’ she said, resting chin",p:10,x:61,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"on hands. ‘How romantic.’",p:10,x:42,y:63,w:147,h:14},
{t:"‘Was it?’",p:10,x:61,y:87,w:50,h:14},
{t:"‘So what did you expect? Guarantees? Peter",p:10,x:61,y:111,w:274,h:14},
{t:"Henshall, you",p:10,x:42,y:132,w:80,h:14},
{t:"’re not one to see the world through",p:10,x:121,y:132,w:213,h:14},
{t:"coloured glass. No castles in the air for our trav-",p:10,x:42,y:153,w:293,h:14},
{t:"elled Englishman.’",p:10,x:42,y:174,w:104,h:14},
{t:"‘That doesn’t seem a helpful line’, he observed,",p:10,x:61,y:198,w:274,h:14},
{t:"now starting to divide the fruit between the two",p:10,x:42,y:219,w:294,h:14},
{t:"plates. A bluebottle buzzed through and settled",p:10,x:42,y:240,w:293,h:14},
{t:"somewhere on the atap awning. ‘But you’re right’,",p:10,x:42,y:260,w:293,h:14},
{t:"he said, handing her portion over, ‘I’m just passing",p:10,x:42,y:281,w:293,h:14},
{t:"through.’",p:10,x:42,y:302,w:50,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m surprised to hear that’, she said, lolling her",p:10,x:61,y:326,w:274,h:14},
{t:"head as though to make him out.",p:10,x:42,y:347,w:185,h:14},
{t:"‘No doubt we make the world we need.’",p:10,x:61,y:371,w:221,h:14},
{t:"‘That is the wisdom of experience, is it?’ She",p:10,x:61,y:396,w:274,h:14},
{t:"smiled to herself, and started on the fruit, appear-",p:10,x:42,y:416,w:292,h:14},
{t:"ing not to listen further.",p:10,x:42,y:437,w:130,h:14},
{t:"‘Wouldn’t you agree?’ he persisted, watching",p:10,x:61,y:461,w:274,h:14},
{t:"the pieces disappear into the large mouth.",p:10,x:42,y:482,w:237,h:14},
{t:"8",p:11,x:175,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"She paused and looked up, a mischievous look",p:11,x:51,y:42,w:275,h:14},
{t:"under the dark eyebrows. ‘So let ’s ask what",p:11,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"brought you here. Looking for work?’",p:11,x:33,y:84,w:207,h:14},
{t:"‘Should I be?’ The change of tone surprised",p:11,x:51,y:108,w:274,h:14},
{t:"him, and he frowned,  the  two creases giving the",p:11,x:33,y:129,w:293,h:14},
{t:"face a quietly humoured look.",p:11,x:33,y:150,w:165,h:14},
{t:"‘I thought you might ask for openings at dinner",p:11,x:51,y:174,w:274,h:14},
{t:"tonight’, she said. ‘But perhaps you won’t.’",p:11,x:33,y:195,w:239,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s without the usual admirers? After the",p:11,x:51,y:219,w:275,h:14},
{t:"shameless performance the other night.’",p:11,x:33,y:240,w:228,h:14},
{t:"‘Oh I think I can make an evening free. Just the",p:11,x:51,y:264,w:275,h:14},
{t:"once, for our  mature Englishman.’",p:11,x:33,y:285,w:196,h:14},
{t:"Henshall walked the woman to her car. Bun-",p:11,x:51,y:309,w:273,h:14},
{t:"dling equipment on the back of his motorbike, he",p:11,x:33,y:330,w:294,h:14},
{t:"drove to Kuta and the Hotel Bali Beach, where he",p:11,x:33,y:350,w:293,h:14},
{t:"checked in without pausing to reflect. Hang the",p:11,x:33,y:371,w:293,h:14},
{t:"expense, he muttered as he wai ted for his call to",p:11,x:33,y:392,w:293,h:14},
{t:"come through. Frank Norbury, Metax Mining’s man",p:11,x:33,y:413,w:293,h:14},
{t:"in Kuala Lumpur, expressed no surprise, but said,",p:11,x:33,y:434,w:293,h:14},
{t:"‘Very well, Mr Henshall. I’ll see if there’s still an",p:11,x:33,y:455,w:293,h:14},
{t:"9",p:12,x:185,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"opening in the Mapura operation. We’ll look for-",p:12,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"ward to hearing from you in a few days.’",p:12,x:42,y:63,w:225,h:14},
{t:"A different woman presented herself when Hen-",p:12,x:61,y:87,w:273,h:14},
{t:"shall appeared at eight that evening. With a slight",p:12,x:42,y:108,w:293,h:14},
{t:"inflection of the head, Hartini, now turned out in a",p:12,x:42,y:129,w:294,h:14},
{t:"short cocktail number, allowed him to escort her",p:12,x:42,y:150,w:293,h:14},
{t:"over to the far side of the lawn, away from the band",p:12,x:42,y:170,w:292,h:14},
{t:"and the spotlit dancefloor.",p:12,x:42,y:191,w:146,h:14},
{t:"‘So what do you think?’ he said when she",p:12,x:61,y:216,w:275,h:14},
{t:"opened her bag and peered into the make-up mir-",p:12,x:42,y:236,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ror. ‘Should we get business over with?’",p:12,x:42,y:257,w:226,h:14},
{t:"She looked up.",p:12,x:61,y:281,w:85,h:14},
{t:"‘Just a thought’, he said, watching her carefully.",p:12,x:61,y:306,w:269,h:14},
{t:"The return was unnerving. ‘All this amateur psy-",p:12,x:61,y:330,w:274,h:14},
{t:"chology comes from reading?’ she said at last.",p:12,x:42,y:350,w:292,h:14},
{t:"‘Long hours on your own, Mr Henshall?’",p:12,x:42,y:371,w:226,h:14},
{t:"‘I try to stay ab reast of events. To understand",p:12,x:61,y:396,w:274,h:14},
{t:"this Suvarnabhumi of yours.’",p:12,x:42,y:416,w:162,h:14},
{t:"‘This what?’",p:12,x:61,y:440,w:68,h:14},
{t:"‘So the old Hindu kingdoms called it.’",p:12,x:61,y:465,w:210,h:14},
{t:"10",p:13,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘We call it the land of shadows, Mr Henshall.",p:13,x:51,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"Not the land of gold.’",p:13,x:33,y:63,w:117,h:14},
{t:"‘Do you now?’ he said. ‘Such a beautiful place,",p:13,x:51,y:87,w:274,h:14},
{t:"and all you think of is shadow puppets, the other",p:13,x:33,y:108,w:293,h:14},
{t:"side of life.’",p:13,x:33,y:129,w:64,h:14},
{t:"‘Is there some agenda we’ re following?’ She put",p:13,x:51,y:153,w:274,h:14},
{t:"the bag down, and frowned at him.",p:13,x:33,y:174,w:196,h:14},
{t:"‘I’d like to know how I could be of service to",p:13,x:51,y:198,w:274,h:14},
{t:"you.’",p:13,x:33,y:219,w:26,h:14},
{t:"‘To me, Hartini Sujono?’ She seemed amused,",p:13,x:51,y:243,w:274,h:14},
{t:"but then clicked the bag shut, as though excluding",p:13,x:33,y:264,w:293,h:14},
{t:"him. ‘Well, if you",p:13,x:33,y:285,w:106,h:14},
{t:"’re going to Australia. You are,",p:13,x:138,y:285,w:188,h:14},
{t:"aren’t you?’",p:13,x:33,y:306,w:65,h:14},
{t:"‘I might get a job here.’",p:13,x:51,y:330,w:128,h:14},
{t:"‘You could take a parcel out for me. I can ’t take",p:13,x:51,y:354,w:274,h:14},
{t:"it myself, and it’s got to be someone I trust. Would",p:13,x:33,y:375,w:292,h:14},
{t:"you do that?’",p:13,x:33,y:396,w:72,h:14},
{t:"‘Just a parcel?’",p:13,x:51,y:420,w:86,h:14},
{t:"‘It won’t weigh you down.’",p:13,x:51,y:444,w:144,h:14},
{t:"11",p:14,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"He glanced at her quickly, and thought he saw",p:14,x:61,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"an earnestness as the gaze settled and moved on .",p:14,x:42,y:63,w:292,h:14},
{t:"‘Not drugs or anything?’ he said.",p:14,x:42,y:84,w:184,h:14},
{t:"‘A manuscript. Just a few hundred pages.’",p:14,x:61,y:108,w:240,h:14},
{t:"‘Why don’t you carry it out yourself?’",p:14,x:61,y:132,w:206,h:14},
{t:"‘Because I don ’t have a p assport. And anyway",p:14,x:61,y:156,w:276,h:14},
{t:"they’d search me and take it away.’ She shrugged .",p:14,x:42,y:177,w:293,h:14},
{t:"‘Listen, I’m an undesirable. I did have a passport,",p:14,x:42,y:198,w:293,h:14},
{t:"with my husband. We travel led a lot: to the States,",p:14,x:42,y:219,w:292,h:14},
{t:"to Holland, performing. It was a good combination.",p:14,x:42,y:240,w:292,h:14},
{t:"For a time we were very popular. Are you following",p:14,x:42,y:260,w:292,h:14},
{t:"me?’",p:14,x:42,y:281,w:27,h:14},
{t:"‘Yes, your English is much too good to have",p:14,x:61,y:306,w:274,h:14},
{t:"been learnt here. ’",p:14,x:42,y:326,w:98,h:14},
{t:"‘I went to school in England, but that’s not the",p:14,x:61,y:350,w:275,h:14},
{t:"point. We were in Jakarta the time of the Sukarno",p:14,x:42,y:371,w:293,h:14},
{t:"plot. Not communists, just socialist sympathizers,",p:14,x:42,y:392,w:293,h:14},
{t:"but it didn’t make any difference. He was a little",p:14,x:42,y:413,w:293,h:14},
{t:"man, half Chinese, and not strong. He should have",p:14,x:42,y:434,w:293,h:14},
{t:"run as I did, or asked for their authority, but he",p:14,x:42,y:455,w:293,h:14},
{t:"12",p:15,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"didn’t. I hid in the garden while they took him",p:15,x:33,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"away.",p:15,x:33,y:63,w:33,h:14},
{t:"’",p:15,x:65,y:63,w:2,h:14},
{t:"‘Someone had to work for his release. ’",p:15,x:51,y:87,w:216,h:14},
{t:"‘They shot him at the station, or on the way.",p:15,x:51,y:111,w:275,h:14},
{t:"Just lined him up, with all the others. The thou-",p:15,x:33,y:132,w:293,h:14},
{t:"sands and thousands of them.’",p:15,x:33,y:153,w:175,h:14},
{t:"Henshall’s look narrowed. ‘So,’ he said, half",p:15,x:51,y:177,w:273,h:14},
{t:"knowing the answer, ‘what’s the manuscript",p:15,x:33,y:198,w:293,h:14},
{t:"about?’",p:15,x:33,y:219,w:42,h:14},
{t:"‘The facts. We want people to know what hap-",p:15,x:51,y:243,w:274,h:14},
{t:"pened.’",p:15,x:33,y:264,w:41,h:14},
{t:"‘Who’s the we?’",p:15,x:51,y:288,w:91,h:14},
{t:"‘Will you help us do that?’",p:15,x:51,y:312,w:146,h:14},
{t:"He stared into the distance, looked at the",p:15,x:51,y:336,w:274,h:14},
{t:"woman again, and said calmly, ",p:15,x:33,y:357,w:192,h:14},
{t:"‘No doubt a mis-",p:15,x:224,y:357,w:101,h:14},
{t:"take, but for you, Hartini Sujono, I will.’",p:15,x:33,y:378,w:217,h:14},
{t:"‘You are a good young man ’, she said, taking",p:15,x:51,y:402,w:274,h:14},
{t:"his hand for a moment. ‘Now you can ask me to",p:15,x:33,y:423,w:293,h:14},
{t:"dance. ’",p:15,x:33,y:444,w:41,h:14},
{t:"No more was said of the manuscript, and for the",p:15,x:51,y:468,w:275,h:14},
{t:"next hour they were an ordinary couple dining out",p:15,x:33,y:489,w:293,h:14},
{t:"13",p:16,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"together, a couple who didn’t know each other well,",p:16,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"as there were long silences, which Henshall men-",p:16,x:42,y:63,w:292,h:14},
{t:"tioned when they walked back to the hotel early,",p:16,x:42,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"many of the guests still whooping it up around",p:16,x:42,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"them.",p:16,x:42,y:126,w:33,h:14},
{t:"‘I think you will honestly try to get the package",p:16,x:61,y:150,w:274,h:14},
{t:"out’, the woman said. ‘The rest doesn’t matter. I",p:16,x:42,y:170,w:285,h:14},
{t:"’ll",p:16,x:326,y:170,w:8,h:14},
{t:"be leaving tomorrow anyway.",p:16,x:42,y:191,w:164,h:14},
{t:"’",p:16,x:204,y:191,w:2,h:14},
{t:"Henshall made friends easily with women, but",p:16,x:61,y:216,w:275,h:14},
{t:"was now disturbed by the news. Slowly he followed",p:16,x:42,y:236,w:293,h:14},
{t:"her down the corridor, where she left him to get the",p:16,x:42,y:257,w:293,h:14},
{t:"package. ‘And the mailing address?’ he said as the",p:16,x:42,y:278,w:293,h:14},
{t:"bulky document was put into his hands. She took",p:16,x:42,y:299,w:293,h:14},
{t:"his arm and guided him up the stairs to his room,",p:16,x:42,y:320,w:293,h:14},
{t:"where she paced about while he ext racted some",p:16,x:42,y:340,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ice from the minibar. ‘Rather ships in the night’, he",p:16,x:42,y:361,w:294,h:14},
{t:"said, handing the drink over.",p:16,x:42,y:382,w:160,h:14},
{t:"Again there was a look he couldn’t place, but",p:16,x:61,y:406,w:274,h:14},
{t:"she was only saying, ‘Peter, just promise me some-",p:16,x:42,y:427,w:293,h:14},
{t:"thing. Whatever happens, you will deliver the pack-",p:16,x:42,y:448,w:293,h:14},
{t:"age. ’",p:16,x:42,y:469,w:27,h:14},
{t:"‘Provided it’s what you say it is.’",p:16,x:61,y:493,w:179,h:14},
{t:"14",p:17,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Oh you men!’ she exc laimed. ‘Here, take the",p:17,x:51,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"thing and read it, will you?’",p:17,x:33,y:63,w:150,h:14},
{t:"Three independent witnesses affirm that in the",p:17,x:51,y:87,w:274,h:14},
{t:"Sungei Lantang village some 28 or 29 men, women",p:17,x:33,y:108,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and children were snatched from their homes on",p:17,x:33,y:129,w:294,h:14},
{t:"the night of October 2nd and attacked with parangs,",p:17,x:33,y:147,w:293,h:17},
{t:"their bodies afterwards being thrown into the river.",p:17,x:33,y:170,w:293,h:14},
{t:"This appears to have been a spontaneous incident,",p:17,x:33,y:191,w:293,h:14},
{t:"not incited by the military, but no attempt was sub-",p:17,x:33,y:212,w:293,h:14},
{t:"sequently made by the police to investigate the",p:17,x:33,y:233,w:293,h:14},
{t:"matter, nor to recover the property and belongings",p:17,x:33,y:254,w:293,h:14},
{t:"seized by the villagers responsible . . .",p:17,x:33,y:275,w:218,h:14},
{t:"Our estimates for the Province as a whole are",p:17,x:51,y:299,w:274,h:14},
{t:"therefore in excess of 8,000 persons and perhaps",p:17,x:33,y:320,w:294,h:14},
{t:"as many as 20,000 . . .",p:17,x:33,y:340,w:133,h:14},
{t:"There was much more in this vein, and Henshall",p:17,x:51,y:365,w:274,h:14},
{t:"finally put the manuscript down in disgust. ‘Was it",p:17,x:33,y:386,w:293,h:14},
{t:"really as bad as this?’ he said.",p:17,x:33,y:406,w:170,h:14},
{t:"‘Will you just take the manuscript?’",p:17,x:51,y:430,w:198,h:14},
{t:"Henshall had read something of this in his",p:17,x:51,y:455,w:275,h:14},
{t:"guidebook: the abortive communist coup of 1965,",p:17,x:33,y:476,w:293,h:14},
{t:"15",p:18,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"the murder of five generals, the countercoup",p:18,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"launched by the army in which large numbers of",p:18,x:42,y:63,w:292,h:14},
{t:"communists had been killed, the installation of",p:18,x:42,y:84,w:292,h:14},
{t:"Suharto as the head of the ruling Golkar party. But",p:18,x:42,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the words hadn’t meant much. Indonesians were",p:18,x:42,y:126,w:293,h:14},
{t:"an open and friendly people, indifferent to anything",p:18,x:42,y:146,w:293,h:14},
{t:"but their families and national sports teams. Now",p:18,x:42,y:167,w:293,h:14},
{t:"there was a deeper side, he realized. Twenty thou-",p:18,x:42,y:188,w:292,h:14},
{t:"sand people in one province alone. Dozens killed in",p:18,x:42,y:209,w:292,h:14},
{t:"every vi llage. He suddenly felt cold in the air-",p:18,x:42,y:230,w:292,h:14},
{t:"conditioned room, and went to sit on the balcony",p:18,x:42,y:250,w:293,h:14},
{t:"wall. The woman followed, seating herself care-",p:18,x:42,y:271,w:293,h:14},
{t:"lessly on a chair facing.",p:18,x:42,y:292,w:133,h:14},
{t:"‘You still remember, still think about these",p:18,x:61,y:316,w:274,h:14},
{t:"events?’ he said.",p:18,x:42,y:337,w:95,h:14},
{t:"‘They are still with me. Not so painful, but still",p:18,x:61,y:361,w:274,h:14},
{t:"there, yes.’",p:18,x:42,y:382,w:62,h:14},
{t:"‘But this was nine years ago.’",p:18,x:61,y:406,w:165,h:14},
{t:"‘I did nothing to help him .’",p:18,x:61,y:430,w:145,h:14},
{t:"‘What could you do? You were seventeen, just a",p:18,x:61,y:455,w:274,h:14},
{t:"girl.’",p:18,x:42,y:476,w:24,h:14},
{t:"16",p:19,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Eighteen. A wife and entertainer. Everyone",p:19,x:51,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"hummed our songs.’",p:19,x:33,y:63,w:116,h:14},
{t:"‘Punishing yourself won’t help.’",p:19,x:51,y:87,w:176,h:14},
{t:"‘Peter,’ she said softly, ‘I’m not punishing my-",p:19,x:51,y:111,w:274,h:14},
{t:"self. I’m performing.’ She stretched her legs, and",p:19,x:33,y:132,w:293,h:14},
{t:"seemed bored with the conversation.",p:19,x:33,y:153,w:207,h:14},
{t:"‘Life has to go on, I suppose.’",p:19,x:51,y:177,w:166,h:14},
{t:"‘No, performing is not living. Every day I per-",p:19,x:51,y:201,w:274,h:14},
{t:"form, but what I feel, that ’s something else, some-",p:19,x:33,y:222,w:293,h:14},
{t:"thing only for me .’",p:19,x:33,y:243,w:100,h:14},
{t:"Henshall sat down again. It had been an instinc-",p:19,x:51,y:267,w:274,h:14},
{t:"tive gesture, protective if anything, but his arms still",p:19,x:33,y:288,w:293,h:14},
{t:"sensed the aching fullness of the body. ‘Where do",p:19,x:33,y:309,w:293,h:14},
{t:"you sing now?’ he said awkwardly as the woman",p:19,x:33,y:330,w:293,h:14},
{t:"continued to stare at him.",p:19,x:33,y:350,w:143,h:14},
{t:"‘I have my own club, or part of it. How else",p:19,x:51,y:375,w:274,h:14},
{t:"could I sing? I have the wrong age, the wrong na-",p:19,x:33,y:396,w:293,h:14},
{t:"tionality, and the wrong background. I’d never keep",p:19,x:33,y:416,w:293,h:14},
{t:"a job if I worked for somebody else.’ She paused.",p:19,x:33,y:437,w:292,h:14},
{t:"‘And I have a protector.’",p:19,x:33,y:458,w:134,h:14},
{t:"‘Imagine someone like you would.’",p:19,x:51,y:482,w:192,h:14},
{t:"17",p:20,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Do you? Do you n ow!’ She was on her feet and",p:20,x:61,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"angry with him. ‘Don’t you understand? There’s",p:20,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"nothing on offer. I’ve got nothing for you.’",p:20,x:42,y:84,w:231,h:14},
{t:"‘I should be happy to get to know you better.’",p:20,x:61,y:108,w:252,h:14},
{t:"‘You can’t.’",p:20,x:61,y:132,w:62,h:14},
{t:"‘If only as a friend.’",p:20,x:61,y:156,w:107,h:14},
{t:"‘That would be an unkindness to us both. You",p:20,x:61,y:180,w:274,h:14},
{t:"think this is Europe, where one can have a casual",p:20,x:42,y:201,w:293,h:14},
{t:"fling and forget about it. But here we pay with our",p:20,x:42,y:222,w:293,h:14},
{t:"blood. You won’t understand, but we do.’",p:20,x:42,y:243,w:230,h:14},
{t:"‘Hartini, listen to me. I don’t suppose it’s wise, or",p:20,x:61,y:267,w:274,h:14},
{t:"unexpected, but I should like to know more about",p:20,x:42,y:288,w:293,h:14},
{t:"you.’",p:20,x:42,y:309,w:26,h:14},
{t:"‘My friend, it is late and I’m tired. Please take",p:20,x:61,y:333,w:274,h:14},
{t:"the parcel.’",p:20,x:42,y:354,w:62,h:14},
{t:"She opened her bag, and handed him the ad-",p:20,x:61,y:378,w:274,h:14},
{t:"dress. ‘Just keep that safe, and don’t write on the",p:20,x:42,y:399,w:294,h:14},
{t:"parcel till you’re out of the country .’",p:20,x:42,y:420,w:196,h:14},
{t:"‘Nothing to remember you by?’",p:20,x:61,y:444,w:173,h:14},
{t:"‘Please do as I say.’",p:20,x:61,y:468,w:113,h:14},
{t:"18",p:21,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Give me your address. I’d like to think of you",p:21,x:51,y:42,w:275,h:14},
{t:"singing somewhere definite, even if I can’t get to it.’",p:21,x:33,y:63,w:289,h:14},
{t:"‘You already know the place. Mapura. The Ko-",p:21,x:51,y:87,w:274,h:14},
{t:"tapalu nightclub.’ She smiled at his expression. ‘So",p:21,x:33,y:108,w:294,h:14},
{t:"I must thank you for a very pleasant even ing, and",p:21,x:33,y:129,w:292,h:14},
{t:"bid you goodnight.’ She walked to the door and",p:21,x:33,y:150,w:293,h:14},
{t:"waited for Henshall to open it.",p:21,x:33,y:170,w:168,h:14},
{t:"‘If I came back to Kotapalu, if I got a job there,",p:21,x:51,y:195,w:274,h:14},
{t:"would you see me? ’",p:21,x:33,y:216,w:111,h:14},
{t:"‘Please take the parcel.’",p:21,x:51,y:240,w:134,h:14},
{t:"‘Why not?’",p:21,x:51,y:264,w:61,h:14},
{t:"‘Goodnight, my friend.’ She freed herself and",p:21,x:51,y:288,w:274,h:14},
{t:"opened the door. For a moment she laid a hand on",p:21,x:33,y:309,w:294,h:14},
{t:"his shoulder as if to say more, but then turned",p:21,x:33,y:330,w:293,h:14},
{t:"away. Henshall watched her walk down the half-lit",p:21,x:33,y:350,w:292,h:14},
{t:"corridor to the stairs, the steps slowly becoming",p:21,x:33,y:371,w:292,h:14},
{t:"inaudible. Then he went to bed and stayed awake",p:21,x:33,y:392,w:293,h:14},
{t:"a long time, sensing the slight honey fragrance that",p:21,x:33,y:413,w:293,h:14},
{t:"seemed comforting and then disquieting as it filled",p:21,x:33,y:434,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the closed room.",p:21,x:33,y:455,w:94,h:14},
{t:"19",p:22,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER 2",p:22,x:66,y:211,w:120,h:27},
{t:"Henshall booked a flight to Singapore and spent",p:22,x:61,y:272,w:274,h:14},
{t:"the last day sketching, restlessly drifting from place",p:22,x:42,y:293,w:293,h:14},
{t:"to place. He patrolled the Bali Beach Hotel, and",p:22,x:42,y:314,w:292,h:14},
{t:"toured the gardens, but all trace of the woman had",p:22,x:42,y:335,w:293,h:14},
{t:"vanished. Eventually, late in the evening, Henshall",p:22,x:42,y:356,w:293,h:14},
{t:"settled down to read what the woman had left. He",p:22,x:42,y:376,w:293,h:14},
{t:"was appalled at the blood-letting, at the thousands",p:22,x:42,y:397,w:293,h:14},
{t:"of bodies dumped in rivers and shallow graves",p:22,x:42,y:418,w:292,h:14},
{t:"throughout Java and the other islands. It was obvi-",p:22,x:42,y:439,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ous why Hartini, or anyone known to harbour anti-",p:22,x:42,y:460,w:293,h:14},
{t:"government views, would experience difficulties,",p:22,x:42,y:480,w:292,h:14},
{t:"20",p:23,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"but Henshall had no particular worries as he stood",p:23,x:33,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"waiting early the following morning at Customs with",p:23,x:33,y:63,w:292,h:14},
{t:"his suitcase, sketch pad and bundles of painting",p:23,x:33,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"gear.",p:23,x:33,y:105,w:28,h:14},
{t:"The officer was a jovial man who was delighted",p:23,x:51,y:129,w:274,h:14},
{t:"with the sketches. He called a colleague over.",p:23,x:33,y:150,w:292,h:14},
{t:"‘More? You have more?’ he asked, pointing to the",p:23,x:33,y:170,w:293,h:14},
{t:"suitcase. Henshall shook his head. ‘You open",p:23,x:33,y:191,w:293,h:14},
{t:"please.’ Henshall stood negligently by as his be-",p:23,x:33,y:212,w:293,h:14},
{t:"longings were placed on the suitcase lid. ‘This",p:23,x:33,y:233,w:293,h:14},
{t:"yours?’ said the officer, picking up the manuscript.",p:23,x:33,y:254,w:293,h:14},
{t:"He untied the string and flipped through the pages,",p:23,x:33,y:275,w:293,h:14},
{t:"retying the parcel and motioning the porter to re-",p:23,x:33,y:296,w:293,h:14},
{t:"pack the suitcase. Henshall nodded to the man,",p:23,x:33,y:316,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and reached for the package, but the officer had",p:23,x:33,y:337,w:293,h:14},
{t:"tucked it under his arm and was now conferring",p:23,x:33,y:358,w:293,h:14},
{t:"with a superior. Henshall was led to a small room",p:23,x:33,y:379,w:294,h:14},
{t:"set out with table and chairs, where he waited half",p:23,x:33,y:400,w:292,h:14},
{t:"an hour. Repeatedly he walked about and stared",p:23,x:33,y:420,w:293,h:14},
{t:"through the window, watching as other passengers",p:23,x:33,y:441,w:292,h:14},
{t:"made their way to the aircraft. The last travel ler",p:23,x:33,y:462,w:293,h:14},
{t:"boarded, and Henshall saw the hostess at the foot",p:23,x:33,y:483,w:293,h:14},
{t:"21",p:24,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"of the gangplank talking to one of the airport offi-",p:24,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"cials. Then the door opened, and two officers came",p:24,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"into the room.",p:24,x:42,y:84,w:77,h:14},
{t:"‘No you sit please,’ said one in English, ‘this not",p:24,x:61,y:108,w:274,h:14},
{t:"take long. Where you get this document?’",p:24,x:42,y:129,w:236,h:14},
{t:"‘It’s mine’, said Henshall.",p:24,x:61,y:153,w:141,h:14},
{t:"‘You type? Here in Indonesia you type two hun-",p:24,x:61,y:177,w:274,h:14},
{t:"dred and twenty pages in . . .’ the officer flicked",p:24,x:42,y:198,w:293,h:14},
{t:"through Henshall’s passport, ‘in eight days you",p:24,x:42,y:219,w:293,h:14},
{t:"here in Bali? Where you get typewriter?’",p:24,x:42,y:240,w:226,h:14},
{t:"‘All right’, said Henshall. ‘I brought it into the",p:24,x:61,y:264,w:275,h:14},
{t:"country, to check something.’",p:24,x:42,y:285,w:167,h:14},
{t:"‘You show please.’ He handed the manuscript",p:24,x:61,y:309,w:274,h:14},
{t:"over.",p:24,x:42,y:330,w:27,h:14},
{t:"‘The atmosphere of the place. ’",p:24,x:61,y:354,w:171,h:14},
{t:"‘You write all this where you before?’ The officer",p:24,x:61,y:378,w:274,h:14},
{t:"referred to the passport again. ‘Singapore one day.",p:24,x:42,y:399,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Three days Malaysia. Peru. Our country interest",p:24,x:42,y:420,w:292,h:14},
{t:"you in Peru?’",p:24,x:42,y:440,w:74,h:14},
{t:"Henshall began to look for another approach.",p:24,x:61,y:465,w:254,h:14},
{t:"‘Where you get document?’ said the man again.",p:24,x:61,y:489,w:271,h:14},
{t:"22",p:25,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘I found it in the bottom of a drawer at a hotel",p:25,x:51,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"where I was staying in Denpasar. Thought it was",p:25,x:33,y:63,w:292,h:14},
{t:"interesting, maybe worth publishing.’",p:25,x:33,y:84,w:207,h:14},
{t:"‘You steal document, and you want money mak-",p:25,x:51,y:108,w:274,h:14},
{t:"ing published. Is that story now?’",p:25,x:33,y:129,w:186,h:14},
{t:"‘Perhaps I should speak to the British Consul’,",p:25,x:51,y:153,w:274,h:14},
{t:"said Henshall.",p:25,x:33,y:174,w:81,h:14},
{t:"‘Yes you speak. Sedition is serious matter.’",p:25,x:51,y:198,w:243,h:14},
{t:"‘I told you that I found it, and where, and there’s",p:25,x:51,y:222,w:274,h:14},
{t:"nothing more I can add.’ He stared at the officer,",p:25,x:33,y:243,w:292,h:14},
{t:"who stared back through dark glasses.",p:25,x:33,y:264,w:219,h:14},
{t:"‘Well Mr Henshall, if you choose not to cooper-",p:25,x:51,y:288,w:274,h:14},
{t:"ate then we will not detain you further’, said the",p:25,x:33,y:309,w:293,h:14},
{t:"second officer, who had not spoken before. ‘You",p:25,x:33,y:330,w:293,h:14},
{t:"may take your flight.’ He gestured to the window.",p:25,x:33,y:350,w:274,h:14},
{t:"‘What about the document? Can I come back",p:25,x:51,y:375,w:274,h:14},
{t:"and claim it sometime? ’",p:25,x:33,y:396,w:133,h:14},
{t:"The voice was still amiable. ",p:25,x:51,y:420,w:177,h:14},
{t:"‘When you have",p:25,x:228,y:420,w:99,h:14},
{t:"told us this is not your property? No, I don’t think",p:25,x:33,y:440,w:293,h:14},
{t:"another visa could be issued in those circum-",p:25,x:33,y:461,w:293,h:14},
{t:"stances.’",p:25,x:33,y:482,w:51,h:14},
{t:"23",p:26,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘And if I don’t go, what happens then?’",p:26,x:61,y:42,w:217,h:14},
{t:"‘We investigate the matter properly, which is the",p:26,x:61,y:66,w:274,h:14},
{t:"correct procedure. ’",p:26,x:42,y:87,w:107,h:14},
{t:"‘You’d keep me in detention?’ Henshall frowned,",p:26,x:61,y:111,w:274,h:14},
{t:"and leant forward, resting his strong arms on the",p:26,x:42,y:132,w:293,h:14},
{t:"table.",p:26,x:42,y:153,w:31,h:14},
{t:"‘We would hold your passport and ask you to",p:26,x:64,y:177,w:271,h:14},
{t:"report to the authorities. You could travel ar ound",p:26,x:42,y:198,w:292,h:14},
{t:"using the receipt.’ He conferred with his colleague.",p:26,x:42,y:219,w:293,h:14},
{t:"‘Yes, that is possible .’",p:26,x:42,y:240,w:123,h:14},
{t:"‘But not leave the country?’",p:26,x:61,y:264,w:153,h:14},
{t:"‘Would you decide please?’",p:26,x:61,y:288,w:156,h:14},
{t:"Henshall looked out of the window, to the flight",p:26,x:61,y:312,w:274,h:14},
{t:"that would take him away from these troubles.",p:26,x:42,y:333,w:292,h:14},
{t:"Stay, he thought. He could always leave af ter-",p:26,x:42,y:354,w:292,h:14},
{t:"wards, when he’d explained to Hartini.",p:26,x:42,y:375,w:215,h:14},
{t:"The older man got to his feet and walked to the",p:26,x:61,y:399,w:274,h:14},
{t:"door, giving Henshall an amused glance before",p:26,x:42,y:420,w:293,h:14},
{t:"going out. Henshall took the form offered him by",p:26,x:42,y:440,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the first officer and wrote ",p:26,x:42,y:461,w:159,h:14},
{t:"‘I have temporarily and",p:26,x:200,y:461,w:134,h:14},
{t:"voluntarily given up my passport to officer . . . ‘ He",p:26,x:42,y:482,w:293,h:14},
{t:"24",p:27,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"looked up and wrote down the man ’s name and",p:27,x:33,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"number. Then he signed it.",p:27,x:33,y:63,w:153,h:14},
{t:"‘That is what Bahasa says. You go to job soon?’",p:27,x:51,y:87,w:272,h:14},
{t:"‘In a few days.’",p:27,x:51,y:111,w:84,h:14},
{t:"‘Please you write company name and address",p:27,x:51,y:136,w:273,h:14},
{t:"here.’ He pointed to the box on the other side of the",p:27,x:33,y:156,w:293,h:14},
{t:"form. ‘Thank you. You collect receipt soon and then",p:27,x:33,y:177,w:293,h:14},
{t:"you free to go.’",p:27,x:33,y:198,w:83,h:14},
{t:"The flight took off. Half an hour later a junior of-",p:27,x:51,y:222,w:273,h:14},
{t:"ficial delivered the receipt with the utmost display of",p:27,x:33,y:243,w:292,h:14},
{t:"courtesy, and Henshall took a taxi back to the Hotel",p:27,x:33,y:264,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Bali Beach. There he mooned about, sometimes on",p:27,x:33,y:285,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the beach, more often brooding in his room. Sev-",p:27,x:33,y:306,w:293,h:14},
{t:"eral times he thought of trying to contact Hartini,",p:27,x:33,y:326,w:292,h:14},
{t:"but he didn’t have her address, or know if phones",p:27,x:33,y:347,w:292,h:14},
{t:"weren ’t tapped. In these gardens, where the hot",p:27,x:33,y:368,w:293,h:14},
{t:"sunshine streamed through the hibiscus and fran-",p:27,x:33,y:389,w:293,h:14},
{t:"gipani, where the friendly wai ters carried beer and",p:27,x:33,y:410,w:292,h:14},
{t:"iced tea to the guests beneath the trees and Bali-",p:27,x:33,y:430,w:292,h:14},
{t:"nese statues, it seemed impossible there could be",p:27,x:33,y:451,w:293,h:14},
{t:"anything sinister in this land of smiles and warmth.",p:27,x:33,y:472,w:293,h:14},
{t:"25",p:28,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"But Customs had been tipped off, and he remem-",p:28,x:42,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"bered the incidents reported in the manuscript.",p:28,x:42,y:63,w:265,h:14},
{t:"The following day Henshall caught his first",p:28,x:61,y:87,w:274,h:14},
{t:"glimpse of the island of Mapura. Two hours after",p:28,x:42,y:108,w:293,h:14},
{t:"leaving Jakarta, he felt the aircraft begin its de-",p:28,x:42,y:129,w:293,h:14},
{t:"scent, and looked out to see Kotapalu spread out",p:28,x:42,y:150,w:292,h:14},
{t:"along the thin coastal plain beneath the towering",p:28,x:42,y:170,w:292,h:14},
{t:"wall of the Baratung Mountains. The plane came in",p:28,x:42,y:191,w:292,h:14},
{t:"low, and Henshall found the place tallied with what",p:28,x:42,y:212,w:293,h:14},
{t:"he’d read: a nondescript relict of the Dutch colonial",p:28,x:42,y:233,w:293,h:14},
{t:"empire, a tangle of corrugated roofs near the port",p:28,x:42,y:254,w:292,h:14},
{t:"and the old commercial centre, and then an im-",p:28,x:42,y:275,w:292,h:14},
{t:"probable orderliness of bungalows and gardens as",p:28,x:42,y:296,w:292,h:14},
{t:"the aircraft flew over ",p:28,x:42,y:316,w:127,h:14},
{t:"the residential area to land at",p:28,x:166,y:316,w:169,h:14},
{t:"the airport north of the town. Henshall collected h is",p:28,x:42,y:337,w:292,h:14},
{t:"luggage and was met by a Land Rover from Metax",p:28,x:42,y:358,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Mining, the logo prominent on the newly painted",p:28,x:42,y:379,w:293,h:14},
{t:"bodywork.",p:28,x:42,y:400,w:57,h:14},
{t:"A boy-scoutish figure got out and introduced",p:28,x:61,y:424,w:274,h:14},
{t:"himself. ‘Bob Woodford. Wasn’t here when you",p:28,x:42,y:445,w:294,h:14},
{t:"came through before.’ They shook hands. ‘Wel-",p:28,x:42,y:466,w:292,h:14},
{t:"come to Metax Mining.’",p:28,x:42,y:486,w:130,h:14},
{t:"26",p:29,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Thank you’, said Henshall, putting a placid face",p:29,x:51,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"on events. The two of them walked through the",p:29,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"crush of sellers and porters to the veh icle. ‘All ship-",p:29,x:33,y:84,w:292,h:14},
{t:"shape and Bristol fashion now, is it?’ said Henshall",p:29,x:33,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"as he watched the last of innumerable boxes and",p:29,x:33,y:126,w:292,h:14},
{t:"crates being stowed aboard.",p:29,x:33,y:146,w:160,h:14},
{t:"‘Should hope so, or Don will want to know why.",p:29,x:51,y:170,w:274,h:14},
{t:"You’ve met Don Cullen, the new boss?’",p:29,x:33,y:191,w:223,h:14},
{t:"‘A Marinus van Ryssen showed me round.’",p:29,x:51,y:216,w:243,h:14},
{t:"‘Ah right. Marinus is back running one of the",p:29,x:51,y:240,w:275,h:14},
{t:"camps. Mike’s at the other: Mike Posner.’",p:29,x:33,y:260,w:234,h:14},
{t:"‘Met him briefly’, said Henshall, conjuring up the",p:29,x:51,y:285,w:276,h:14},
{t:"scrawny, crew-cut figure.",p:29,x:33,y:306,w:143,h:14},
{t:"‘Knows his business.’",p:29,x:51,y:330,w:123,h:14},
{t:"Henshall laughed. ‘I’m sure he does.’",p:29,x:51,y:354,w:210,h:14},
{t:"‘Then we have twelve Indonesian geologists,",p:29,x:51,y:378,w:274,h:14},
{t:"three of them rather good. The helicopter pilots are",p:29,x:33,y:399,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ex-Vietnam. So, with the drivers, field-hands, cooks,",p:29,x:33,y:420,w:292,h:14},
{t:"clerical staff, that’s about fifty altogether. Plus the",p:29,x:33,y:440,w:294,h:14},
{t:"survey ship, in Singapore at the moment, loading",p:29,x:33,y:461,w:293,h:14},
{t:"up with stores and field items. Rankin’s the skipper:",p:29,x:33,y:482,w:293,h:14},
{t:"27",p:30,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"one of those grizzled old sea captains. You",p:30,x:42,y:42,w:260,h:14},
{t:"’ll like",p:30,x:302,y:42,w:33,h:14},
{t:"him.’",p:30,x:42,y:63,w:27,h:14},
{t:"‘And you’re the number two .’",p:30,x:61,y:87,w:161,h:14},
{t:"‘I am. General dogsbody. Look after public rela-",p:30,x:61,y:111,w:274,h:14},
{t:"tions, like visiting the Governor, which you’ll have",p:30,x:42,y:132,w:293,h:14},
{t:"to do this afternoon. Takes a keen interest in us.’",p:30,x:42,y:153,w:276,h:14},
{t:"It was natural to like this friendly eagerness, but",p:30,x:61,y:177,w:273,h:14},
{t:"where the man fitted into mineral exploration, Hen-",p:30,x:42,y:198,w:292,h:14},
{t:"shall couldn’t imagine. Professionals were never",p:30,x:42,y:219,w:294,h:14},
{t:"welcoming. They sized you up, found out where",p:30,x:42,y:240,w:293,h:14},
{t:"you’d been, what you’d done, and never gave any-",p:30,x:42,y:260,w:293,h:14},
{t:"thing away. But Henshall had signed on, and there",p:30,x:42,y:281,w:293,h:14},
{t:"was no turning back. He looked at the small",p:30,x:42,y:302,w:292,h:14},
{t:"houses through the cramped Land Rover windows,",p:30,x:42,y:323,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the bustle of brightly dressed pedestrians, the",p:30,x:42,y:344,w:294,h:14},
{t:"shoals of schoolchildren drifting on bicycles from",p:30,x:42,y:365,w:293,h:14},
{t:"side to side of the road, and decided to say nothing",p:30,x:42,y:386,w:292,h:14},
{t:"until the vehicle stopped in the office compound",p:30,x:42,y:406,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and he was taken across to meet the staff again.",p:30,x:42,y:427,w:292,h:14},
{t:"The secretaries remembered him, smiling warmly",p:30,x:42,y:448,w:293,h:14},
{t:"as they extended a hand across their typewriters.",p:30,x:42,y:469,w:292,h:14},
{t:"Then he went round the labyrinth of rooms that",p:30,x:42,y:490,w:293,h:14},
{t:"28",p:31,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"made up the operation ’s headquarters, looked at",p:31,x:33,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the maps, inspected the assay lab, toured the vehi-",p:31,x:33,y:63,w:292,h:14},
{t:"cle workshops, and remarked finally, ",p:31,x:33,y:84,w:223,h:14},
{t:"‘Is our boss",p:31,x:255,y:84,w:70,h:14},
{t:"around?’",p:31,x:33,y:105,w:50,h:14},
{t:"‘Won’t be long’, said Woodford, pausing to fling",p:31,x:51,y:129,w:274,h:14},
{t:"open the door to an em pty office. ",p:31,x:33,y:150,w:200,h:14},
{t:"‘Your place. Get",p:31,x:232,y:150,w:94,h:14},
{t:"some furniture in for you shortly.’",p:31,x:33,y:170,w:186,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s fine,’ said Henshall, ‘but I think I ought to",p:31,x:51,y:195,w:274,h:14},
{t:"present myself.’ He walked to the door marked Dr",p:31,x:33,y:216,w:292,h:14},
{t:"Donald Cullen: General Manager, knocked once",p:31,x:33,y:236,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and went in. A plump figure, balding, with thick",p:31,x:33,y:257,w:293,h:14},
{t:"glasses and dressed in khaki field gear, was talking",p:31,x:33,y:278,w:292,h:14},
{t:"earnestly into the radio. He glanced up in some",p:31,x:33,y:299,w:293,h:14},
{t:"irritation. ‘Peter Henshall reporting’, said his visitor.",p:31,x:33,y:320,w:287,h:14},
{t:"‘Don Cullen working. I’ll have you in when it",p:31,x:51,y:344,w:274,h:14},
{t:"suits me. Now go away.’",p:31,x:33,y:365,w:137,h:14},
{t:"Henshall went over to inspect the radio. ",p:31,x:51,y:389,w:251,h:14},
{t:"‘Get",p:31,x:302,y:389,w:24,h:14},
{t:"much of a range on that?’ he said.",p:31,x:33,y:410,w:193,h:14},
{t:"Cullen pointed to the door.",p:31,x:51,y:434,w:149,h:14},
{t:"‘As you like’, said Henshall, and strolled out. He",p:31,x:51,y:458,w:274,h:14},
{t:"folded himself into one of the visitor ’s chairs in the",p:31,x:33,y:479,w:293,h:14},
{t:"29",p:32,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"front office, where the women got him coffee. An",p:32,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"attractive b londe in her late thirties, neatly turned",p:32,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"out in floral dress and high heels, sailed through",p:32,x:42,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the office and into Cullen ’s room, flashing Henshall",p:32,x:42,y:105,w:292,h:14},
{t:"a business-like smile as she passed. ‘Sally Cullen’,",p:32,x:42,y:126,w:293,h:14},
{t:"she said afterwards, giving him the briefest of",p:32,x:42,y:146,w:292,h:14},
{t:"handshakes. No prizes for guessing who runs this",p:32,x:42,y:167,w:293,h:14},
{t:"show, thought Henshall, seeing the brassy look",p:32,x:42,y:188,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and the obsequious fluster of the drivers who came",p:32,x:42,y:209,w:293,h:14},
{t:"running up as she stepped into the forecourt. A",p:32,x:42,y:230,w:293,h:14},
{t:"half-hour later Henshall was called into the man-",p:32,x:42,y:250,w:292,h:14},
{t:"ager ’s office, where he found Cullen in a more",p:32,x:42,y:271,w:293,h:14},
{t:"relaxed and confidential mood. ‘Take a pew, Hen-",p:32,x:42,y:292,w:292,h:14},
{t:"shall,’ he said, ‘won’t keep you long.’",p:32,x:42,y:313,w:206,h:14},
{t:"‘Peter’, said his visitor.",p:32,x:61,y:337,w:127,h:14},
{t:"‘Be you r job sometime. Requisitions. Always get",p:32,x:61,y:361,w:274,h:14},
{t:"the paperwork done and the rest sorts itself out.’",p:32,x:42,y:382,w:273,h:14},
{t:"Henshall looked at him carefully.",p:32,x:61,y:406,w:183,h:14},
{t:"‘Let ’s get down to brass tacks. What do you",p:32,x:61,y:430,w:276,h:14},
{t:"know of the operation?’",p:32,x:42,y:451,w:131,h:14},
{t:"30",p:33,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"Henshall outlined his understanding of the",p:33,x:51,y:42,w:275,h:14},
{t:"stream sampling that featured in their mineral",p:33,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"search.",p:33,x:33,y:84,w:42,h:14},
{t:"‘How do you feel about starting straight away?",p:33,x:51,y:108,w:275,h:14},
{t:"You",p:33,x:33,y:129,w:23,h:14},
{t:"’ll want to get your feet wet. Prove you rself and",p:33,x:55,y:129,w:270,h:14},
{t:"all tha t.’",p:33,x:33,y:150,w:43,h:14},
{t:"‘My experience is on the record.’",p:33,x:51,y:174,w:183,h:14},
{t:"‘Which is why I",p:33,x:51,y:198,w:91,h:14},
{t:"’ve booked you transport tomor-",p:33,x:142,y:198,w:183,h:14},
{t:"row.’",p:33,x:33,y:219,w:26,h:14},
{t:"‘Without the usual familiarization?’",p:33,x:51,y:243,w:194,h:14},
{t:"‘Sooner you",p:33,x:51,y:267,w:72,h:14},
{t:"’re earning your keep the happier",p:33,x:122,y:267,w:203,h:14},
{t:"everyone will be. Land Rover leaves at six. ’",p:33,x:33,y:288,w:241,h:14},
{t:"Henshall went out, bumping into Woodford,",p:33,x:51,y:312,w:274,h:14},
{t:"who’d been hovering near the door. ‘Everything all",p:33,x:33,y:333,w:293,h:14},
{t:"right?’ said the man cautiously.",p:33,x:33,y:354,w:175,h:14},
{t:"‘Wouldn’t mind a talk with you sometime .’",p:33,x:51,y:378,w:234,h:14},
{t:"‘Bit tied up right now.’",p:33,x:51,y:402,w:122,h:14},
{t:"‘We could go down to the nightclub, supposing",p:33,x:51,y:426,w:274,h:14},
{t:"it’s not a glorified cathouse.’",p:33,x:33,y:447,w:158,h:14},
{t:"‘Nothing like that ’, said Woodford. ‘Some host-",p:33,x:51,y:471,w:273,h:14},
{t:"esses apparently, but they’re chaperoned.’",p:33,x:33,y:492,w:239,h:14},
{t:"31",p:34,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Just the singer?’",p:34,x:61,y:42,w:97,h:14},
{t:"‘Yes, she keeps it all very proper, or so they",p:34,x:61,y:66,w:275,h:14},
{t:"say. I’m married myself.’",p:34,x:42,y:87,w:138,h:14},
{t:"‘They’re not going to eat us’, said Henshall. ‘Try",p:34,x:61,y:111,w:274,h:14},
{t:"it?’",p:34,x:42,y:132,w:16,h:14},
{t:"Woodford shook his head. ‘No thanks. I leave",p:34,x:61,y:156,w:276,h:14},
{t:"all that to the younger contingent.’",p:34,x:42,y:177,w:191,h:14},
{t:"There was no sign of Hartini when Henshall",p:34,x:61,y:201,w:274,h:14},
{t:"made his way to the club a little after ten, or any-",p:34,x:42,y:222,w:293,h:14},
{t:"one remotely answering to her description. An",p:34,x:42,y:243,w:292,h:14},
{t:"overweight Chinese woman crooned into the mi-",p:34,x:42,y:264,w:292,h:14},
{t:"crophone, and there were short sketches by a",p:34,x:42,y:285,w:294,h:14},
{t:"stand-up comic that Henshall couldn’t understand.",p:34,x:42,y:306,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Several women drifted in, one of them a s triking",p:34,x:42,y:326,w:292,h:14},
{t:"Chinese in a white sequined dress slit up to the",p:34,x:42,y:347,w:293,h:14},
{t:"waist. But the woman simply ran a practised eye",p:34,x:42,y:368,w:294,h:14},
{t:"over the clientele, and disappeared. Henshall grew",p:34,x:42,y:389,w:293,h:14},
{t:"bored. The place didn’t fill up as the evening wore",p:34,x:42,y:410,w:293,h:14},
{t:"on, and, though the manager came over to sit with",p:34,x:42,y:430,w:292,h:14},
{t:"him, Henshall found little to say, indeed could",p:34,x:42,y:451,w:293,h:14},
{t:"hardly make himself understood. Did he know a",p:34,x:42,y:472,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Hartini Sujono? Was there a beautiful singer who",p:34,x:42,y:493,w:294,h:14},
{t:"32",p:35,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"performed at this club sometimes? ‘You do not find",p:35,x:33,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"this singer beautiful?’ the manager asked, gestur-",p:35,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ing to the large Chinese woman who had now",p:35,x:33,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"seated herself at the bar. He laughed uproariously,",p:35,x:33,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and was still smiling broadly when his guest turned",p:35,x:33,y:126,w:293,h:14},
{t:"to the exit.",p:35,x:33,y:146,w:58,h:14},
{t:"Van Ryssen ’s camp was much as Henshall ex-",p:35,x:51,y:170,w:275,h:14},
{t:"pected: twelve huts laid out by the river, with heli-",p:35,x:33,y:191,w:293,h:14},
{t:"copter pad and fuel store on higher ground. The",p:35,x:33,y:212,w:293,h:14},
{t:"pilot, a Rick Darrell, was new to the operation and",p:35,x:33,y:233,w:292,h:14},
{t:"seemed to be taking its measure. Whatever their",p:35,x:33,y:254,w:292,h:14},
{t:"earlier acquaintance, van Ryssen now treated",p:35,x:33,y:275,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Henshall as junior staff, giving him a share of the",p:35,x:33,y:296,w:293,h:14},
{t:"work and expecting him to get on with it, which he",p:35,x:33,y:316,w:294,h:14},
{t:"did, easily enough after the first few days.",p:35,x:33,y:337,w:235,h:14},
{t:"Henshall began sketching again, using the hour",p:35,x:51,y:361,w:274,h:14},
{t:"or two of light that remained after the helicopter",p:35,x:33,y:382,w:293,h:14},
{t:"had stopped flying for the day. Sometimes he",p:35,x:33,y:403,w:293,h:14},
{t:"worked by the river, and sometimes in the",p:35,x:33,y:424,w:293,h:14},
{t:"neighbouring kampong, where the vi llagers would",p:35,x:33,y:445,w:293,h:14},
{t:"often pose, but there was always Sjaripudin, one of",p:35,x:33,y:466,w:294,h:14},
{t:"the Indonesian geologists, who pestered him with",p:35,x:33,y:486,w:293,h:14},
{t:"33",p:36,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"questions and saw no point in the work. ‘A photo is",p:36,x:42,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"just different’, said Henshall one afternoon.",p:36,x:42,y:63,w:242,h:14},
{t:"‘Better I think’, said Sjaripudin. ‘More accurate.’",p:36,x:61,y:87,w:267,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m making something of the scene, under-",p:36,x:61,y:111,w:274,h:14},
{t:"standing it in pictorial terms’, said Henshall.",p:36,x:42,y:132,w:247,h:14},
{t:"‘That why you change all the time, I know.’",p:36,x:61,y:156,w:239,h:14},
{t:"‘Why I adjust the tones, rearrange the composi-",p:36,x:61,y:180,w:273,h:14},
{t:"tion, remake the scene as the medium allows.’",p:36,x:42,y:201,w:261,h:14},
{t:"‘Like my map, Mr Peter.’",p:36,x:61,y:226,w:137,h:14},
{t:"‘I’d noticed that. From your field-sheets,",p:36,x:61,y:250,w:224,h:14},
{t:"pa’?’",p:36,x:289,y:250,w:27,h:14},
{t:"‘Sjaripudin no need field-sheets. He see, he re-",p:36,x:61,y:274,w:274,h:14},
{t:"member, he write on paper.’",p:36,x:42,y:295,w:158,h:14},
{t:"Henshall said nothing, but waylaid van Ryssen",p:36,x:61,y:319,w:274,h:14},
{t:"on his way back from the shower that evening.",p:36,x:42,y:340,w:262,h:14},
{t:"‘How will that help?’ said the man.",p:36,x:61,y:364,w:192,h:14},
{t:"‘Sjaripudin hasn’t the faintest idea about map-",p:36,x:61,y:388,w:274,h:14},
{t:"ping. He just makes it up.’",p:36,x:42,y:409,w:148,h:14},
{t:"‘One day only?’",p:36,x:61,y:433,w:87,h:14},
{t:"34",p:37,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘To begin with. I’ll take him through the rudi-",p:37,x:51,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"ments of mapping, and then look in occasionally.",p:37,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Keep him busy in the afternoons, anyway.’",p:37,x:33,y:84,w:239,h:14},
{t:"‘While you paint, which I do not like. Camps are",p:37,x:51,y:108,w:274,h:14},
{t:"places of work. It does not create a p rofessional",p:37,x:33,y:129,w:293,h:14},
{t:"attitude .’",p:37,x:33,y:150,w:48,h:14},
{t:"‘There is nothing wrong with my work.’",p:37,x:51,y:174,w:217,h:14},
{t:"Ryssen, and the subject wasn’t discussed",p:37,x:51,y:198,w:274,h:14},
{t:"again, neither Sjaripudin’s supervision nor those of",p:37,x:33,y:219,w:292,h:14},
{t:"the other geologists that Henshall gradually took",p:37,x:33,y:240,w:294,h:14},
{t:"under his wing. While van Ryssen got on with the",p:37,x:33,y:260,w:293,h:14},
{t:"paperwork, Henshall continued with his painting,",p:37,x:33,y:281,w:293,h:14},
{t:"stacking the work inside the hut he shared with an",p:37,x:33,y:302,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Indonesian geologist.",p:37,x:33,y:323,w:120,h:14},
{t:"‘I have no choice’, said his boss one even",p:37,x:51,y:347,w:242,h:14},
{t:"ing as",p:37,x:291,y:347,w:35,h:14},
{t:"Henshall leafed through the weekly mail packet.",p:37,x:33,y:368,w:292,h:14},
{t:"‘For me it is stupid, but I have to go to this mine,",p:37,x:33,y:389,w:293,h:14},
{t:"this Tambang Surga .’",p:37,x:33,y:410,w:122,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s clear enough’, agreed Henshall. ‘And I’d",p:37,x:51,y:434,w:275,h:14},
{t:"be sure to cross all the t’s, if I were you.’",p:37,x:33,y:455,w:228,h:14},
{t:"‘What does that mean?’",p:37,x:51,y:479,w:135,h:14},
{t:"35",p:38,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘It means,’ said the pilot, pulling the last piece of",p:38,x:61,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"flesh off a chicken leg, ‘that it’s a try-on.’ The men",p:38,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"looked at each other across the Mess table. ",p:38,x:42,y:84,w:264,h:14},
{t:"‘Your",p:38,x:305,y:84,w:29,h:14},
{t:"boss out to get you, or something?’",p:38,x:42,y:105,w:199,h:14},
{t:"‘I make my own orders’, said van Ryssen, taking",p:38,x:61,y:129,w:274,h:14},
{t:"Cullen ’s memo back. ‘I have been longer in exp lo-",p:38,x:42,y:150,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ration than to take instruction like this.’",p:38,x:42,y:170,w:217,h:14},
{t:"‘Suit yourself, Marinus, but if you want an off-",p:38,x:61,y:195,w:274,h:14},
{t:"sider, I’d be pleased to come. Do me good to get",p:38,x:42,y:216,w:293,h:14},
{t:"away from this routine.’",p:38,x:42,y:236,w:131,h:14},
{t:"Van Ryssen shook his head. ‘No you must look",p:38,x:61,y:260,w:275,h:14},
{t:"after the camp, which means you do not go to Ko-",p:38,x:42,y:281,w:293,h:14},
{t:"tapalu when my back is turned.’",p:38,x:42,y:302,w:179,h:14},
{t:"‘I have a f ew days ’ leave owi ng’, said Henshall.",p:38,x:61,y:326,w:264,h:14},
{t:"‘You do not go to meet the woman in your por-",p:38,x:61,y:350,w:274,h:14},
{t:"traits, that is what I am saying. She is in Kotapalu I",p:38,x:42,y:371,w:293,h:14},
{t:"think.’",p:38,x:42,y:392,w:34,h:14},
{t:"Henshall was surprised. ‘She works there.’",p:38,x:61,y:416,w:242,h:14},
{t:"‘Hartini Sujono’, said van Ryssen with an odd",p:38,x:61,y:440,w:274,h:14},
{t:"smile. ",p:38,x:42,y:461,w:38,h:14},
{t:"‘How do you know her?’",p:38,x:79,y:461,w:134,h:14},
{t:"‘Shouldn’t I?’",p:38,x:61,y:486,w:74,h:14},
{t:"36",p:39,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘She is beautiful,’ said van Ryssen indifferently,",p:39,x:51,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"continuing with his meal, ‘but she causes trouble.",p:39,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Perhaps you should not trust her.’ Seeing Hen-",p:39,x:33,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"shall’s look, he shrugged and added, ‘That is what I",p:39,x:33,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"must tell you.’",p:39,x:33,y:126,w:78,h:14},
{t:"‘I was simply asking for the Land Rover.’",p:39,x:51,y:150,w:229,h:14},
{t:"‘Ja,’ he said. ‘I do not give permission, but if the",p:39,x:51,y:174,w:275,h:14},
{t:"Land Rover is missing for a few days I cannot",p:39,x:33,y:195,w:293,h:14},
{t:"know. That is best I can do .’",p:39,x:33,y:216,w:159,h:14},
{t:"‘Much appreciated ’, said Henshall. He ignored",p:39,x:51,y:240,w:274,h:14},
{t:"the glances between pilot and engineer, and",p:39,x:33,y:260,w:293,h:14},
{t:"opened another beer.",p:39,x:33,y:281,w:120,h:14},
{t:"Two days after this conversation, when van",p:39,x:51,y:306,w:275,h:14},
{t:"Ryssen and the last load of supplies had been",p:39,x:33,y:326,w:294,h:14},
{t:"helicopter-ferried into Tambang Surga, Henshall",p:39,x:33,y:347,w:292,h:14},
{t:"set off. He left before sunrise and by lunchtime was",p:39,x:33,y:368,w:294,h:14},
{t:"two hundred miles on his way. He drove quietly at",p:39,x:33,y:389,w:293,h:14},
{t:"first, only honking at the market traders and women",p:39,x:33,y:410,w:293,h:14},
{t:"who obstructed the narrow streets of the v illages.",p:39,x:33,y:430,w:292,h:14},
{t:"At a food stall outside Semarung he took a break,",p:39,x:33,y:451,w:292,h:14},
{t:"finishing off a large rice cookie and three p ickled",p:39,x:33,y:472,w:293,h:14},
{t:"eggs, but was soon on the road ag ain. For mile",p:39,x:33,y:493,w:293,h:14},
{t:"37",p:40,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"after mile, along the central valley, the volcanic",p:40,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"cones hung inverted in the reflection of padi fields",p:40,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"as evening approached, but Henshall had no time",p:40,x:42,y:84,w:294,h:14},
{t:"for these or other thoughts. One image possessed",p:40,x:42,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"him: Hartini laughing, Hartini strolling in that teasing",p:40,x:42,y:126,w:293,h:14},
{t:"way of hers. He passed men carrying paraffin",p:40,x:42,y:146,w:292,h:14},
{t:"lamps and wandering slowly along the road, who",p:40,x:42,y:167,w:294,h:14},
{t:"shrank into the shadows and stared as the vehicle",p:40,x:42,y:188,w:293,h:14},
{t:"hurtled past. But Henshall was in a world of his",p:40,x:42,y:209,w:293,h:14},
{t:"own in which the road, the trees, the fences, the",p:40,x:42,y:230,w:293,h:14},
{t:"huts and the odd bridge rushed out at him and",p:40,x:42,y:250,w:293,h:14},
{t:"which by deft gear change and brake he subdued",p:40,x:42,y:271,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and shot past. In a small village, however, just as",p:40,x:42,y:292,w:293,h:14},
{t:"he was turning a sharp corner, a small child ran",p:40,x:42,y:313,w:293,h:14},
{t:"out, and, in avoiding her, Henshall plunged into the",p:40,x:42,y:334,w:293,h:14},
{t:"side of a hut. An angry crowd of villagers collected,",p:40,x:42,y:355,w:292,h:14},
{t:"swarming over the Land Rover and hammering on",p:40,x:42,y:376,w:294,h:14},
{t:"the windows at the foreigner who sat grimly inside,",p:40,x:42,y:396,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ignoring a local policeman who forced his way",p:40,x:42,y:417,w:293,h:14},
{t:"through and blew furiously on his whistle.",p:40,x:42,y:438,w:233,h:14},
{t:"38",p:41,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER 3",p:41,x:56,y:211,w:120,h:27},
{t:"‘Where did you say?’ asked Cullen again.",p:41,x:52,y:272,w:235,h:14},
{t:"‘Sungei Tuloh’, said his liaison officer. ‘A village",p:41,x:52,y:296,w:274,h:14},
{t:"that perhaps you have not heard of. It would be",p:41,x:33,y:317,w:293,h:14},
{t:"eighty miles from here.’",p:41,x:33,y:338,w:132,h:14},
{t:"‘Never mind how far it is. What in Heaven",p:41,x:52,y:362,w:266,h:14},
{t:"’s",p:41,x:316,y:362,w:9,h:14},
{t:"name was Henshall doing on that road?’",p:41,x:33,y:383,w:227,h:14},
{t:"‘He wasn’t on the road, as it happens, but in a",p:41,x:52,y:407,w:274,h:14},
{t:"hut.’ Iskaq looked up from the document to peer",p:41,x:33,y:428,w:293,h:14},
{t:"over his glasses. ‘Yes, that’s what the report says.’",p:41,x:33,y:449,w:286,h:14},
{t:"Cullen’s complexion turned purple.",p:41,x:52,y:473,w:196,h:14},
{t:"39",p:42,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘And the injured party was asleep’, continued Is-",p:42,x:61,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"kaq, translating as he went along. ‘It came as a",p:42,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"most unwelcome surprise. ’",p:42,x:42,y:84,w:152,h:14},
{t:"Cullen could feel his eyes bulging. ‘So let us",p:42,x:61,y:108,w:274,h:14},
{t:"start again,",p:42,x:42,y:129,w:63,h:14},
{t:"Pa’ Iskaq, shall we? First Henshall was",p:42,x:110,y:129,w:224,h:14},
{t:"driving a Land Rover. Now he’s in a hut. Which was",p:42,x:42,y:150,w:292,h:14},
{t:"it?’",p:42,x:42,y:170,w:16,h:14},
{t:"‘Well both, I imagine, Dr Cullen, or there wouldn’t",p:42,x:61,y:195,w:275,h:14},
{t:"have been an accident, would there?’",p:42,x:42,y:216,w:210,h:14},
{t:"Cullen held his temper. First there had been",p:42,x:61,y:240,w:274,h:14},
{t:"Sally breezing in to demand four hundred thousand",p:42,x:42,y:260,w:293,h:14},
{t:"rupiahs in cash for a truckload of handicrafts that",p:42,x:42,y:281,w:293,h:14},
{t:"were now cluttering his office. Then, for reasons",p:42,x:42,y:302,w:292,h:14},
{t:"best known to himself, Woodford had broken pro-",p:42,x:42,y:323,w:293,h:14},
{t:"tocol and told the cook that all three of them were",p:42,x:42,y:344,w:293,h:14},
{t:"to have lunch in the Mess. Now there was Iskaq",p:42,x:42,y:365,w:293,h:14},
{t:"with some wretched police report that made no",p:42,x:42,y:386,w:293,h:14},
{t:"sense. Cullen slowly unfolded his arms, and said,",p:42,x:42,y:406,w:293,h:14},
{t:"‘This report, it’s reliable, is it? Not some garbled",p:42,x:42,y:427,w:293,h:14},
{t:"communiqué ?’",p:42,x:42,y:448,w:83,h:14},
{t:"40",p:43,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Most assuredly not, Dr Cullen. It has been",p:43,x:51,y:42,w:275,h:14},
{t:"signed by the local Police Chief. A most respected",p:43,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"figure .’",p:43,x:33,y:84,w:38,h:14},
{t:"‘So it’s serious.’",p:43,x:51,y:108,w:89,h:14},
{t:"‘To run over someone who is quietly asleep in a",p:43,x:51,y:132,w:275,h:14},
{t:"hut in his own village in the middle of the night is",p:43,x:33,y:153,w:293,h:14},
{t:"not a matter to be taken lightly .’",p:43,x:33,y:174,w:176,h:14},
{t:"‘So that’s it!’ exclaimed Cullen. ‘Henshall’s run",p:43,x:51,y:198,w:274,h:14},
{t:"into a hut and injured somebody. Why in God’s",p:43,x:33,y:219,w:293,h:14},
{t:"name couldn’t you have said so straight away,",p:43,x:33,y:240,w:270,h:14},
{t:"Pa’",p:43,x:307,y:240,w:19,h:14},
{t:"Iskaq?’",p:43,x:33,y:260,w:41,h:14},
{t:"The man looked surprised. ‘It is in the report’, he",p:43,x:51,y:285,w:275,h:14},
{t:"said, laying it carefully on the table. ‘Only you did",p:43,x:33,y:306,w:293,h:14},
{t:"not wish me to read all of it, I understood.’",p:43,x:33,y:326,w:236,h:14},
{t:"‘Now look,’ said Cullen, ‘this is bad news. Does",p:43,x:51,y:350,w:274,h:14},
{t:"the report say where the Land Rover is?’",p:43,x:33,y:371,w:229,h:14},
{t:"‘It will have been impounded’, said Iskaq, pick-",p:43,x:51,y:396,w:274,h:14},
{t:"ing up the document again. ‘Most certainly .’",p:43,x:33,y:416,w:246,h:14},
{t:"‘Damn!’ said Cullen. ‘Another one gone. Two",p:43,x:51,y:440,w:274,h:14},
{t:"laid up in the workshop, and now one more is out",p:43,x:33,y:461,w:293,h:14},
{t:"41",p:44,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"of service. Don ’t the authorities realize how difficult",p:44,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"it is to operate in this country?’",p:44,x:42,y:63,w:173,h:14},
{t:"‘The authorities have their job to d o’, said Iskaq.",p:44,x:61,y:87,w:274,h:14},
{t:"‘They cannot make exceptions.’",p:44,x:42,y:108,w:178,h:14},
{t:"‘But how do we get it back? Some money do the",p:44,x:61,y:132,w:274,h:14},
{t:"trick?’",p:44,x:42,y:153,w:34,h:14},
{t:"‘You are considering some pecuniary induce-",p:44,x:61,y:177,w:274,h:14},
{t:"ment for the authorities to drop the matter?’",p:44,x:42,y:198,w:245,h:14},
{t:"‘I just want the vehicle back.’",p:44,x:61,y:222,w:162,h:14},
{t:"‘Which is being impounded as surety for com-",p:44,x:61,y:246,w:274,h:14},
{t:"pensation to the victim, and cost of police time. Has",p:44,x:42,y:267,w:292,h:14},
{t:"that not occurred to you , Dr Cullen?’ Iskaq took off",p:44,x:42,y:288,w:292,h:14},
{t:"his glasses, and looked severely at his boss.",p:44,x:42,y:309,w:252,h:14},
{t:"‘I leave t hese matters entirely to your jurisdic-",p:44,x:61,y:333,w:273,h:14},
{t:"tion, pa’. I do not wish to be troubled with details.’",p:44,x:42,y:354,w:278,h:14},
{t:"Iskaq sighed. ‘Very well then, Dr Cullen, I",p:44,x:61,y:378,w:274,h:14},
{t:"should have thought that two hundred thousand",p:44,x:42,y:399,w:293,h:14},
{t:"rupiahs would settle the matter quite amicably .’",p:44,x:42,y:420,w:265,h:14},
{t:"‘Two hundred thousand? As much as that?’",p:44,x:61,y:444,w:248,h:14},
{t:"‘If I go in person. The family of the unfortunate",p:44,x:61,y:468,w:274,h:14},
{t:"villager whose leg is broken will be pleased w ith a",p:44,x:42,y:489,w:294,h:14},
{t:"42",p:45,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"small share of that, and of course the police will be",p:45,x:33,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"only too happy to release Mr Henshall and resume",p:45,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"their normal duties.’",p:45,x:33,y:84,w:111,h:14},
{t:"‘No,",p:45,x:51,y:108,w:23,h:14},
{t:"pa’. I see no reason why Metax should",p:45,x:82,y:108,w:243,h:14},
{t:"bend the rules. We’ll compensate the family, of",p:45,x:33,y:129,w:294,h:14},
{t:"course, and the Land Rover can be towed back,",p:45,x:33,y:150,w:292,h:14},
{t:"but Henshall can suffer the penalty of his own fool-",p:45,x:33,y:170,w:292,h:14},
{t:"ishness. Do him good. Set an example to the other",p:45,x:33,y:191,w:293,h:14},
{t:"hooligans on this operation. I will not have my i n-",p:45,x:33,y:212,w:292,h:14},
{t:"structions flouted in this way.’",p:45,x:33,y:233,w:167,h:14},
{t:"‘It does not appear to have been en tirely the",p:45,x:51,y:257,w:274,h:14},
{t:"fault of Mr Henshall, according to the police report’,",p:45,x:33,y:278,w:292,h:14},
{t:"said Iskaq, resuming his studious air in reading the",p:45,x:33,y:299,w:294,h:14},
{t:"document.",p:45,x:33,y:320,w:60,h:14},
{t:"‘Then they’ll let him go, won’t they?’ said Cullen,",p:45,x:51,y:344,w:274,h:14},
{t:"interrupting him. ‘If you can get down there today I",p:45,x:33,y:365,w:293,h:14},
{t:"should be most obliged. Now, if you",p:45,x:33,y:386,w:213,h:14},
{t:"’ll excuse me,",p:45,x:245,y:386,w:82,h:14},
{t:"it’s time for the radio scheds.’",p:45,x:33,y:406,w:166,h:14},
{t:"Iskaq went out, and the matter remained in",p:45,x:51,y:430,w:274,h:14},
{t:"abeyance till lunchtime, when Woodford brought up",p:45,x:33,y:451,w:294,h:14},
{t:"the subject. ‘Don’t you think we should do some-",p:45,x:33,y:472,w:293,h:14},
{t:"43",p:46,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"thing?’ he said, after a moment’s reflection. ‘Can ’t",p:46,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"be too p leasant for Peter down there. ’",p:46,x:42,y:63,w:211,h:14},
{t:"‘Then perhaps he’ll reflect on his folly’, said Cul-",p:46,x:61,y:87,w:274,h:14},
{t:"len. ",p:46,x:42,y:108,w:24,h:14},
{t:"‘Rules are not made for fun. It is not wise to",p:46,x:68,y:108,w:267,h:14},
{t:"drive in this country, and that is why we have never",p:46,x:42,y:129,w:293,h:14},
{t:"applied for out-of-town licences.’",p:46,x:42,y:150,w:183,h:14},
{t:"‘Of course, Don, I accept that. But shouldn’t we",p:46,x:61,y:174,w:274,h:14},
{t:"go down and show him some moral support? At",p:46,x:42,y:195,w:293,h:14},
{t:"least find out what trouble he’s facing?’",p:46,x:42,y:216,w:221,h:14},
{t:"‘Iskaq is going this afternoon. No point in having",p:46,x:61,y:240,w:274,h:14},
{t:"a westerner blundering in.’",p:46,x:42,y:260,w:150,h:14},
{t:"‘Don is right, you know, Robert dear",p:46,x:61,y:285,w:226,h:14},
{t:"’, added",p:46,x:286,y:285,w:49,h:14},
{t:"Sally. ‘Henshall should not have been driving, no",p:46,x:42,y:306,w:293,h:14},
{t:"doubt about that. And van Ryssen shouldn’t have",p:46,x:42,y:326,w:293,h:14},
{t:"given him permission to take the Land Rover. Much",p:46,x:42,y:347,w:293,h:14},
{t:"of the blame can be laid at the door of our Dutch",p:46,x:42,y:368,w:292,h:14},
{t:"friend, I’m afraid.’",p:46,x:42,y:389,w:99,h:14},
{t:"‘Who’s off the air,’ said Cullen, ‘conveniently .’",p:46,x:61,y:413,w:257,h:14},
{t:"‘Expect he’s out at that mine’, said Woodford.",p:46,x:61,y:437,w:274,h:14},
{t:"‘He works pretty hard.’",p:46,x:42,y:458,w:127,h:14},
{t:"44",p:47,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Nice of you to stand up for him,’ said Sally, ‘but",p:47,x:51,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"there are other issues. Don makes the rules, and",p:47,x:33,y:63,w:292,h:14},
{t:"everyone has to obey them. There can only be one",p:47,x:33,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"chief on an operation, and that is something van",p:47,x:33,y:105,w:295,h:14},
{t:"Ryssen still has to learn.’",p:47,x:33,y:126,w:142,h:14},
{t:"‘Of course’, said Woodford pleasantly, in a de-",p:47,x:51,y:150,w:274,h:14},
{t:"tached way. He was wondering if he liked Sally.",p:47,x:33,y:170,w:293,h:14},
{t:"She was great fun to be with—clear head, always",p:47,x:33,y:191,w:293,h:14},
{t:"decisive—but now it could be serious for van",p:47,x:33,y:212,w:294,h:14},
{t:"Ryssen, since no one knew what he’d said to Hen-",p:47,x:33,y:233,w:292,h:14},
{t:"shall, and this was something Iskaq wouldn’t find",p:47,x:33,y:254,w:293,h:14},
{t:"out. Woodford began to feel uncomfortable.",p:47,x:33,y:275,w:247,h:14},
{t:"He realized the Cullens were looking at him.",p:47,x:51,y:299,w:274,h:14},
{t:"‘Everything all right, Robert dear? You looked miles",p:47,x:33,y:320,w:293,h:14},
{t:"away.",p:47,x:33,y:340,w:33,h:14},
{t:"’",p:47,x:65,y:340,w:2,h:14},
{t:"‘Thinking about something.’",p:47,x:51,y:365,w:157,h:14},
{t:"‘Overdoing things’, decided Cullen. ‘Better take",p:47,x:51,y:389,w:275,h:14},
{t:"some leave shortly, old boy, before you crack up",p:47,x:33,y:410,w:293,h:14},
{t:"completely. ’",p:47,x:33,y:430,w:66,h:14},
{t:"As Cullen was accompanying Sally on a tour of",p:47,x:51,y:455,w:274,h:14},
{t:"local handicraft workshops, Woodford simply left a",p:47,x:33,y:476,w:293,h:14},
{t:"45",p:48,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"note on his manager’s desk, and threw himself into",p:48,x:42,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Iskaq’s Land Rover when it left shortly after two.",p:48,x:42,y:63,w:271,h:14},
{t:"‘Get to know this beautiful country of yours bet-",p:48,x:61,y:87,w:273,h:14},
{t:"ter,",p:48,x:42,y:108,w:18,h:14},
{t:"pa’. Too cut off here in Kotapalu all the time .’",p:48,x:64,y:108,w:252,h:14},
{t:"‘Quite so, young man ’, said Iskaq, several re-",p:48,x:61,y:132,w:274,h:14},
{t:"joinders to this obvious untruth passing across his",p:48,x:42,y:153,w:293,h:14},
{t:"thoughts.",p:48,x:42,y:174,w:53,h:14},
{t:"Though it was not a long trip, Woodford was",p:48,x:61,y:198,w:274,h:14},
{t:"more used to travel ling to the camps by helicopter,",p:48,x:42,y:219,w:292,h:14},
{t:"and he found the journey extremely taxing. They",p:48,x:42,y:240,w:293,h:14},
{t:"rattled over ruts and potholes, across ramshackle",p:48,x:42,y:260,w:293,h:14},
{t:"wooden bridges, through palm-shaded villages",p:48,x:42,y:281,w:292,h:14},
{t:"where knots of brightly dressed women waved",p:48,x:42,y:302,w:294,h:14},
{t:"cheerfully, gesturing the veh icle to stop before its",p:48,x:42,y:323,w:292,h:14},
{t:"occupants came fully into view. Then they left the",p:48,x:42,y:344,w:294,h:14},
{t:"coastal plain, with its profusion of villages and flat",p:48,x:42,y:365,w:293,h:14},
{t:"miles of glinting padi field, and began climbing the",p:48,x:42,y:386,w:295,h:14},
{t:"Baratung Mountains proper. They plunged into long",p:48,x:42,y:406,w:293,h:14},
{t:"stretches of shade, the air suddenly becoming",p:48,x:42,y:427,w:293,h:14},
{t:"chilly and damp. The gradient steepened; the road",p:48,x:42,y:448,w:293,h:14},
{t:"looped in endless hairpin bends, and dizzying",p:48,x:42,y:469,w:293,h:14},
{t:"drops of hundreds of feet to boulder-strewn torrents",p:48,x:42,y:490,w:293,h:14},
{t:"46",p:49,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"began to appear on one side and then the other of",p:49,x:33,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the road. They crossed cantilever bridges, the",p:49,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ironwork rusting but still serviceable after forty",p:49,x:33,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"years of neglect. Incredible what the Dutch had",p:49,x:33,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"achieved in this terrain, thought Woodford, imagin-",p:49,x:33,y:126,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ing the sweat of working year after year in this hell-",p:49,x:33,y:146,w:292,h:14},
{t:"hole of a place, without a social life or leave or",p:49,x:33,y:167,w:293,h:14},
{t:"medical care.",p:49,x:33,y:188,w:76,h:14},
{t:"The tropical evening was deepening when the",p:49,x:51,y:212,w:275,h:14},
{t:"party arrived in Sungei Tuloh. Paraffin lamps had",p:49,x:33,y:233,w:293,h:14},
{t:"been lit in some of the huts, and the younger gen-",p:49,x:33,y:254,w:293,h:14},
{t:"eration was out together, walking and laughing on",p:49,x:33,y:275,w:293,h:14},
{t:"their customary even ing stroll. They stared without",p:49,x:33,y:296,w:292,h:14},
{t:"interest as the Land Rover drew to a halt outside the",p:49,x:33,y:316,w:293,h:14},
{t:"police station and Iskaq went in. Woodford remained",p:49,x:33,y:337,w:293,h:14},
{t:"in the veh icle until the usual preliminaries were com-",p:49,x:33,y:358,w:292,h:14},
{t:"pleted, and was on the point of joining Iskaq when",p:49,x:33,y:379,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the little man emerged, perplexed an d irritated, with",p:49,x:33,y:400,w:292,h:14},
{t:"the police chief in attendance. ",p:49,x:33,y:420,w:189,h:14},
{t:"‘Not here’, he ex-",p:49,x:221,y:420,w:105,h:14},
{t:"plained, getting into the vehicle. ‘Our friend has",p:49,x:33,y:441,w:292,h:14},
{t:"gone, it seems.’",p:49,x:33,y:462,w:89,h:14},
{t:"‘Gone?’ said Woodford in alarm. ‘Gone where? ’",p:49,x:51,y:486,w:269,h:14},
{t:"47",p:50,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Seems he’s been released.’",p:50,x:61,y:42,w:159,h:14},
{t:"‘That ’s wonderful. Thank God for that!’ said",p:50,x:61,y:66,w:274,h:14},
{t:"Woodford. ‘Aren ’t you pleased, Pa’ Iskaq?’",p:50,x:42,y:87,w:242,h:14},
{t:"‘Yes,’ said the man gloomily, ",p:50,x:61,y:111,w:168,h:14},
{t:"‘but there’s a mes-",p:50,x:228,y:111,w:106,h:14},
{t:"sage.’ He handed Woodford an envelope on which",p:50,x:42,y:132,w:292,h:14},
{t:"was printed: For Messrs. Cullen & Woodford.",p:50,x:42,y:153,w:258,h:14},
{t:"Woodford slit it open. ‘Yes look,",p:50,x:61,y:177,w:186,h:14},
{t:"pa’: Regret in-",p:50,x:252,y:177,w:83,h:14},
{t:"convenience caused. Rejoining operation shortly.",p:50,x:42,y:198,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Land Rover not badly damaged but will have it",p:50,x:42,y:219,w:293,h:14},
{t:"returned to Kotapalu ASAP for panel beating. Peter",p:50,x:42,y:240,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Henshall. PS Please check if injured vi llager needs",p:50,x:42,y:260,w:292,h:14},
{t:"hospital treatment. Have taken different route.’",p:50,x:42,y:281,w:261,h:14},
{t:"Iskaq reached for the note, turned it over, and",p:50,x:61,y:306,w:274,h:14},
{t:"read it again. ‘Rather a was ted journey’, he re-",p:50,x:42,y:326,w:293,h:14},
{t:"marked, motioning the driver to start the engine.",p:50,x:42,y:347,w:270,h:14},
{t:"‘At least he’s safe’, said Woodford. ‘I am",p:50,x:61,y:371,w:274,h:14},
{t:"pleased.’ But when the vehicle came to the edge of",p:50,x:42,y:392,w:294,h:14},
{t:"the village it occurred to him that they hadn’t com-",p:50,x:42,y:413,w:292,h:14},
{t:"pleted their mission. Badgered again, Iskaq replied,",p:50,x:42,y:434,w:293,h:14},
{t:"‘All right, let’s see if this man hasn’t mysteriously",p:50,x:42,y:455,w:293,h:14},
{t:"disappeared as well.’ They found the injured party",p:50,x:42,y:476,w:293,h:14},
{t:"48",p:51,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"easily enough, however, his leg supported by",p:51,x:33,y:42,w:294,h:14},
{t:"splints and wrapped in banana leaves, a sight that",p:51,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"appalled Woodford. ‘Doesn’t look too good",p:51,x:33,y:84,w:265,h:14},
{t:"’, he",p:51,x:297,y:84,w:29,h:14},
{t:"said to Iskaq. ‘Shouldn’t we take him to Kotapalu?’",p:51,x:33,y:105,w:284,h:14},
{t:"‘The man does not wish to go. The skin has not",p:51,x:51,y:129,w:274,h:14},
{t:"been broken so there’s no danger of infection.",p:51,x:33,y:150,w:292,h:14},
{t:"These people know what they’re doing, and the",p:51,x:33,y:170,w:293,h:14},
{t:"fracture will heal soon enough.’",p:51,x:33,y:191,w:175,h:14},
{t:"‘But what about compensation? Shouldn’t we",p:51,x:51,y:216,w:274,h:14},
{t:"give him something? I mean, he’ll be off work for",p:51,x:33,y:236,w:293,h:14},
{t:"some time .’",p:51,x:33,y:257,w:65,h:14},
{t:"‘That has already been taken care of",p:51,x:51,y:281,w:219,h:14},
{t:"’, said Is-",p:51,x:270,y:281,w:55,h:14},
{t:"kaq, getting to his feet. ‘Completely taken care of.’",p:51,x:33,y:302,w:282,h:14},
{t:"‘Who by?’ said Woodford in surprise. ‘Henshall,",p:51,x:51,y:326,w:274,h:14},
{t:"is it?’",p:51,x:33,y:347,w:30,h:14},
{t:"‘In a manner of speaking’, said Iskaq, indicating",p:51,x:51,y:371,w:274,h:14},
{t:"to the headman that the visit was over.",p:51,x:33,y:392,w:217,h:14},
{t:"‘I see, or, rather, I don ’t’, said Woodford. ‘Why",p:51,x:51,y:416,w:274,h:14},
{t:"did they decide to let Peter Henshall go?’",p:51,x:33,y:437,w:231,h:14},
{t:"‘Someone came from Jakarta. ’",p:51,x:51,y:461,w:172,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s unusual, isn’t it? All in a few days?’",p:51,x:51,y:486,w:240,h:14},
{t:"49",p:52,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Very’, said Iskaq, now at the hut entrance. ‘But",p:52,x:61,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"perhaps we can return to Kotapalu without further",p:52,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"delay.",p:52,x:42,y:84,w:34,h:14},
{t:"’",p:52,x:75,y:84,w:2,h:14},
{t:"‘Well, actually, I’m going to leave you h ere. I’d",p:52,x:61,y:108,w:274,h:14},
{t:"like to go on south and see the country a bit.’",p:52,x:42,y:129,w:253,h:14},
{t:"Iskaq stopped. ‘How, young man? You are not",p:52,x:61,y:153,w:274,h:14},
{t:"thinking of requisitioning this Land Rover, are you?’",p:52,x:42,y:174,w:290,h:14},
{t:"‘Of course not. I’ll take a bus. Could you find out",p:52,x:61,y:198,w:274,h:14},
{t:"for me? ’",p:52,x:42,y:219,w:46,h:14},
{t:"For several seconds, lips tightly pursed, Iskaq",p:52,x:61,y:243,w:274,h:14},
{t:"stared at Woodford. Then he sent the driver away,",p:52,x:42,y:264,w:294,h:14},
{t:"who came back sheepishly with the information.",p:52,x:42,y:285,w:270,h:14},
{t:"‘There’s one at ten o’clock for Semarung. It will",p:52,x:61,y:309,w:274,h:14},
{t:"be an uncomfortable trip.’",p:52,x:42,y:330,w:144,h:14},
{t:"‘Can’t be helped.’",p:52,x:61,y:354,w:98,h:14},
{t:"Iskaq opened his mouth, closed it, and then",p:52,x:61,y:378,w:274,h:14},
{t:"walked back to the Land Rover, shaking his head.",p:52,x:42,y:399,w:293,h:14},
{t:"The driver handed Woodford his bag, and the vehi-",p:52,x:42,y:420,w:293,h:14},
{t:"cle slowly lumbered off, its headlights catching the",p:52,x:42,y:440,w:293,h:14},
{t:"sides of the huts as it turned through the narrow",p:52,x:42,y:461,w:293,h:14},
{t:"street.",p:52,x:42,y:482,w:35,h:14},
{t:"50",p:53,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"Two days passed for Woodford in a delirium of",p:53,x:51,y:42,w:275,h:14},
{t:"tedium, fatigue and discomfort. Continually, as he",p:53,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"sat hunched up on his seat, surrounded by men in",p:53,x:33,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"grey shirts who puffed quietly at thin cigarettes, by",p:53,x:33,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"buxom woman on their way to market, by heaps of",p:53,x:33,y:126,w:293,h:14},
{t:"melons, baskets of vegetables and fruit, wicker-",p:53,x:33,y:146,w:292,h:14},
{t:"work cages of hens, and, for a time, a couple of",p:53,x:33,y:167,w:294,h:14},
{t:"inquisitive goats, he asked himself why he had ever",p:53,x:33,y:188,w:296,h:14},
{t:"thought of the idea. The view through the windows",p:53,x:33,y:209,w:293,h:14},
{t:"of jungle,",p:53,x:33,y:230,w:56,h:14},
{t:"padi,",p:53,x:97,y:230,w:27,h:14},
{t:"kampong and long stretches of",p:53,x:133,y:230,w:193,h:14},
{t:"palm trees, the sun sizzling on their shiny leaves,",p:53,x:33,y:250,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the blue sky with clouds, and the occasional",p:53,x:33,y:271,w:293,h:14},
{t:"glimpse of mountains, held his attention only for the",p:53,x:33,y:292,w:294,h:14},
{t:"first few hours. At each stopping point he asked the",p:53,x:33,y:313,w:294,h:14},
{t:"name of the village or town, but his map didn’t",p:53,x:33,y:334,w:294,h:14},
{t:"show the smaller places, and he finally gave up",p:53,x:33,y:355,w:292,h:14},
{t:"calculating the length of his ordeal.",p:53,x:33,y:376,w:197,h:14},
{t:"The bus did not pass van Ryssen’s camp, which",p:53,x:51,y:400,w:274,h:14},
{t:"lay out of town, but a friendly truck-driver gave",p:53,x:33,y:420,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Woodford a lift, refusing payment. For the whole",p:53,x:33,y:441,w:293,h:14},
{t:"journey Woodford had been wondering what he",p:53,x:33,y:462,w:294,h:14},
{t:"51",p:54,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"would say to van Ryssen, but found only the flight",p:54,x:42,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"crew in camp.",p:54,x:42,y:63,w:79,h:14},
{t:"‘Hold your horses’, said the pilot. ‘We’ll do a",p:54,x:61,y:87,w:274,h:14},
{t:"recce later.’",p:54,x:42,y:108,w:66,h:14},
{t:"‘I need to talk to Marinus’, said Woodford.",p:54,x:61,y:132,w:236,h:14},
{t:"‘You can join the queue for that.’",p:54,x:61,y:156,w:182,h:14},
{t:"‘Someone’s got to find him before the Cullens",p:54,x:61,y:180,w:273,h:14},
{t:"do. They’re on the warpath.’",p:54,x:42,y:201,w:157,h:14},
{t:"‘Have a beer’, said the pilot.",p:54,x:61,y:226,w:156,h:14},
{t:"Though Woodford was tired after his journey, he",p:54,x:61,y:250,w:274,h:14},
{t:"was also impatient, and watched with annoyance",p:54,x:42,y:270,w:293,h:14},
{t:"as Darrell and the engineer lounged about after",p:54,x:42,y:291,w:293,h:14},
{t:"lunch in T-shirts and caps pulled over their faces.",p:54,x:42,y:312,w:293,h:14},
{t:"But then supplies were stowed aboard, and by",p:54,x:42,y:333,w:294,h:14},
{t:"midafternoon the helicopter was diligently search-",p:54,x:42,y:354,w:292,h:14},
{t:"ing Tambang Surga, sweeping across the jungle-",p:54,x:42,y:375,w:293,h:14},
{t:"clad hills as village, head-frames, adits, and tip-",p:54,x:42,y:396,w:292,h:14},
{t:"heaps loomed out of the vegetation and disap-",p:54,x:42,y:416,w:292,h:14},
{t:"peared again.",p:54,x:42,y:437,w:77,h:14},
{t:"‘Beats me’, said Darrell. ‘What did that Indon",p:54,x:61,y:461,w:274,h:14},
{t:"say, the big guy strutting around back there?’",p:54,x:42,y:482,w:255,h:14},
{t:"52",p:55,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Captain Mochtar, the police chief? Gone north",p:55,x:51,y:42,w:274,h:14},
{t:"a week ago. ’",p:55,x:33,y:63,w:70,h:14},
{t:"‘Mean-looking guy’, reflected the pilot.",p:55,x:51,y:87,w:213,h:14},
{t:"‘You think so?’ said Woodford, but then the craft",p:55,x:51,y:111,w:274,h:14},
{t:"banked steeply to follow an old rail track that",p:55,x:33,y:132,w:293,h:14},
{t:"glinted at intervals through the trees.",p:55,x:33,y:153,w:206,h:14},
{t:"Van Ryssen had heard the helicopter but was",p:55,x:51,y:201,w:274,h:14},
{t:"thinking of more pressing matters. Here the river",p:55,x:33,y:222,w:293,h:14},
{t:"meandered quietly under a screen of palms and",p:55,x:33,y:243,w:292,h:14},
{t:"creepers, but it wasn’t friendly. Of course there are",p:55,x:33,y:264,w:293,h:14},
{t:"areas of the forest that are difficult for ever yone,",p:55,x:33,y:285,w:293,h:14},
{t:"but in time you plan routes, skirt difficulties, realize",p:55,x:33,y:306,w:294,h:14},
{t:"the animals themselves have their haunts and",p:55,x:33,y:326,w:292,h:14},
{t:"rituals. Van Ryssen had long ago come to feel at",p:55,x:33,y:347,w:293,h:14},
{t:"home in this great breathing mass of vegetation.",p:55,x:33,y:368,w:292,h:14},
{t:"Sometimes it was suffocating, but with each morn-",p:55,x:33,y:389,w:292,h:14},
{t:"ing came scores of brightly coloured birds flitting",p:55,x:33,y:410,w:293,h:14},
{t:"through the forest canopy. Gibbon colonies",p:55,x:33,y:430,w:292,h:14},
{t:"whooped softly, sometimes for hours on end, and",p:55,x:33,y:451,w:292,h:14},
{t:"monkeys would appear, swinging from branch to",p:55,x:33,y:472,w:293,h:14},
{t:"branch, fighting and chattering and gesticulating.",p:55,x:33,y:493,w:293,h:14},
{t:"53",p:56,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"The an imals of the forest floor—the tiger, elephant,",p:56,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"deer and wild pig—never showed themselves,",p:56,x:42,y:63,w:292,h:14},
{t:"never interfered.",p:56,x:42,y:84,w:92,h:14},
{t:"Something remained, however, something that",p:56,x:61,y:108,w:274,h:14},
{t:"grew more insistent with experience. At first there",p:56,x:42,y:129,w:293,h:14},
{t:"was nothing particular about some area, nothing",p:56,x:42,y:150,w:292,h:14},
{t:"tangible, but the guides approached such places",p:56,x:42,y:170,w:292,h:14},
{t:"with reluctance, and would never camp anywhere",p:56,x:42,y:191,w:293,h:14},
{t:"near. Van Ryssen began himself to know that in",p:56,x:42,y:212,w:292,h:14},
{t:"some places the gloom was a little thicker than",p:56,x:42,y:233,w:293,h:14},
{t:"elsewhere, the silence more knotted and intense.",p:56,x:42,y:254,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Although stories of jungle spirits were apocryphal,",p:56,x:42,y:275,w:293,h:14},
{t:"you avoided trouble if you could.",p:56,x:42,y:296,w:182,h:14},
{t:"But there were schedules to follow. Only reluc-",p:56,x:61,y:320,w:273,h:14},
{t:"tantly had van Ryssen changed his plans, and",p:56,x:42,y:340,w:293,h:14},
{t:"taken the team out of the mine area. No doubt the",p:56,x:42,y:361,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Dutch had prospected every inch of the hinterland,",p:56,x:42,y:382,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and the Japanese afterwards, but there was no",p:56,x:42,y:403,w:293,h:14},
{t:"geochemistry then, no aer ial photos. Something",p:56,x:42,y:424,w:292,h:14},
{t:"could have been uncovered in the rapid erosion of",p:56,x:42,y:445,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the last forty year s, and indeed, after a long search",p:56,x:42,y:466,w:292,h:14},
{t:"the previous day they’d come across a small lump",p:56,x:42,y:486,w:292,h:14},
{t:"54",p:57,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"of vein material in a boulder train. The search had",p:57,x:33,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"narrowed to a small hill, and then to a wall of lode",p:57,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"material exposed in a steep bank. The pyrite had",p:57,x:33,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"oxidized to a rusty colour that encrusted the sur-",p:57,x:33,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"face with ribbon-like swellings, but the rock under-",p:57,x:33,y:126,w:293,h:14},
{t:"neath was hard and fresh. Van Ryssen had looked",p:57,x:33,y:146,w:293,h:14},
{t:"at a piece he’d hammered out. The pyrite was eve-",p:57,x:33,y:167,w:294,h:14},
{t:"rywhere, but there were also threads of a warmer-",p:57,x:33,y:188,w:292,h:14},
{t:"coloured metal. He’d scratched with his pocket",p:57,x:33,y:209,w:293,h:14},
{t:"knife, and peered again. Gold. No doubt about it.",p:57,x:33,y:230,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Mapping and sampling and feasibility studies would",p:57,x:33,y:250,w:293,h:14},
{t:"come next, but this was the genuine article, the one",p:57,x:33,y:271,w:293,h:14},
{t:"in a thousand chance that every geologist dreams",p:57,x:33,y:292,w:292,h:14},
{t:"of, and for which he goes on working hopefully all",p:57,x:33,y:313,w:293,h:14},
{t:"his life.",p:57,x:33,y:334,w:40,h:14},
{t:"So why had the atmosphere changed? Van",p:57,x:51,y:358,w:274,h:14},
{t:"Ryssen had ignored the feeling, directing his men",p:57,x:33,y:379,w:293,h:14},
{t:"to fan out and look for more showings, but they",p:57,x:33,y:400,w:293,h:14},
{t:"hadn’t obeyed. He’d ordered a return to the river for",p:57,x:33,y:420,w:293,h:14},
{t:"lunch, where they were camped now, but even this",p:57,x:33,y:441,w:293,h:14},
{t:"respite, usually so popular, where they could open",p:57,x:33,y:462,w:293,h:14},
{t:"tins of corned beef and boil their rice, had not been",p:57,x:33,y:483,w:293,h:14},
{t:"55",p:58,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"marked with enthusiasm. And then the worst hap-",p:58,x:42,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"pened. Tracks appeared: three clear pugmarks and",p:58,x:42,y:63,w:292,h:14},
{t:"a fainter one. For a mile they had traced their own",p:58,x:42,y:84,w:292,h:14},
{t:"footprints back, and over their trail were the tiger ’s.",p:58,x:42,y:105,w:292,h:14},
{t:"Where they had crossed a stream the an imal had",p:58,x:42,y:126,w:293,h:14},
{t:"also crossed. There was no need to check further,",p:58,x:42,y:146,w:292,h:14},
{t:"only to think carefully.",p:58,x:42,y:167,w:122,h:14},
{t:"When he’d come to Mapura, a country that",p:58,x:61,y:191,w:274,h:14},
{t:"hadn’t seen a European for thirty years, each day",p:58,x:42,y:212,w:293,h:14},
{t:"had been exciting. He’d called on married staff and",p:58,x:42,y:233,w:292,h:14},
{t:"their families in the way usual in small-town Indo-",p:58,x:42,y:254,w:293,h:14},
{t:"nesia. He’d organized weekly cinema parties for",p:58,x:42,y:275,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the single staff—drivers, technicians, office staff—",p:58,x:42,y:296,w:292,h:14},
{t:"to which he attached himself and paid for refresh-",p:58,x:42,y:316,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ments at the interval. He chatted with Lola, the",p:58,x:42,y:337,w:293,h:14},
{t:"prettiest of the secretaries, and wanted to invite her",p:58,x:42,y:358,w:293,h:14},
{t:"out, only that wasn’t possible, any more than the",p:58,x:42,y:379,w:293,h:14},
{t:"women he saw bathing in the rivers could be ap-",p:58,x:42,y:400,w:293,h:14},
{t:"proached or spoken to. Stop the Land Rover, and",p:58,x:42,y:420,w:292,h:14},
{t:"they would immediately wrap themselves in their",p:58,x:42,y:441,w:292,h:14},
{t:"sarongs and escape into the bushes, chattering",p:58,x:42,y:462,w:293,h:14},
{t:"and shrieking with laughter.",p:58,x:42,y:483,w:156,h:14},
{t:"56",p:59,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"Sometimes he’d pictured himself running his",p:59,x:51,y:42,w:275,h:14},
{t:"own company, settled with a local beauty, even ",p:59,x:33,y:63,w:290,h:14},
{t:"if",p:59,x:319,y:63,w:6,h:14},
{t:"this was a dream every arriving expatriate indulged",p:59,x:33,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"in, vaguely, without pursuing it far. But van Ryssen",p:59,x:33,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"had pursued it, at least for a while. Off and on, he’d",p:59,x:33,y:126,w:292,h:14},
{t:"visited the daughter of a local businessman who",p:59,x:33,y:146,w:293,h:14},
{t:"had invited him back for dinner. Somehow it hadn’t",p:59,x:33,y:167,w:293,h:14},
{t:"worked. With the whole family, for whom h e’d paid,",p:59,x:33,y:188,w:292,h:14},
{t:"he’d at last taken Ermita to the Kotapalu nightclub,",p:59,x:33,y:209,w:293,h:14},
{t:"where the singer had come over and sat at their",p:59,x:33,y:230,w:292,h:14},
{t:"table for a few minutes, chatting politely before",p:59,x:33,y:250,w:293,h:14},
{t:"flashing her eyes at him. Ermita had seen the ges-",p:59,x:33,y:271,w:292,h:14},
{t:"ture, and had promptly announced she felt tired.",p:59,x:33,y:292,w:293,h:14},
{t:"There had been a moment afterwards in the car,",p:59,x:33,y:313,w:292,h:14},
{t:"when the family had gone into the house, which",p:59,x:33,y:334,w:293,h:14},
{t:"seemed put aside for van Ryssen, but he’d flunked",p:59,x:33,y:355,w:293,h:14},
{t:"it: Ermita wouldn’t see him again, and then the",p:59,x:33,y:376,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Cullens arrived.",p:59,x:33,y:396,w:88,h:14},
{t:"Van Ryssen had told his staff that Metax Mining",p:59,x:51,y:420,w:275,h:14},
{t:"was a western company where a Head-Office poli-",p:59,x:33,y:441,w:292,h:14},
{t:"tician would come to forge links at government",p:59,x:33,y:462,w:292,h:14},
{t:"level. But the Cullens had changed everything,",p:59,x:33,y:483,w:293,h:14},
{t:"57",p:60,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"dismissing what had been achieved in the previous",p:60,x:42,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"months. Woodford hadn’t worked in exp loration",p:60,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"before, and couldn’t see the problems. Only Hen-",p:60,x:42,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"shall seemed to know, and not to take the Cullens",p:60,x:42,y:105,w:292,h:14},
{t:"seriously, but that aloof young man took nothing",p:60,x:42,y:126,w:293,h:14},
{t:"seriously. It was with real annoyance that van",p:60,x:42,y:146,w:294,h:14},
{t:"Ryssen had been obliged to assign a whole after-",p:60,x:42,y:167,w:292,h:14},
{t:"noon to showing round the visitor, even though the",p:60,x:42,y:188,w:294,h:14},
{t:"words were pleasant enough. ‘An hour would be",p:60,x:42,y:209,w:294,h:14},
{t:"fine, if you could spare it’, Henshall had said, open-",p:60,x:42,y:230,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ing a conversation that lasted through the after-",p:60,x:42,y:250,w:292,h:14},
{t:"noon and late into the evening.",p:60,x:42,y:271,w:173,h:14},
{t:"Van Ryssen found there was more behind the",p:60,x:61,y:296,w:275,h:14},
{t:"distant manner than he’d realized, even moments",p:60,x:42,y:316,w:292,h:14},
{t:"when he caught Henshall looking at him in good-",p:60,x:42,y:337,w:293,h:14},
{t:"natured amusement. Always professional, he had",p:60,x:42,y:358,w:293,h:14},
{t:"fallen in with Henshall’s suggestion that they take",p:60,x:42,y:379,w:293,h:14},
{t:"dinner in town, from which they went to the night-",p:60,x:42,y:400,w:293,h:14},
{t:"club, which van Ryssen hadn’t visited since the",p:60,x:42,y:420,w:293,h:14},
{t:"Ermita debacle. ",p:60,x:42,y:441,w:95,h:14},
{t:"‘Would it embarrass you if I took a",p:60,x:136,y:441,w:199,h:14},
{t:"sketch pad along?’ he asked. ‘I do a bit of this",p:60,x:42,y:462,w:293,h:14},
{t:"when I get time.’ The drawings were good. Van",p:60,x:42,y:483,w:293,h:14},
{t:"58",p:61,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"Ryssen was astounded at the speed by which the",p:61,x:33,y:42,w:294,h:14},
{t:"man drew the snub noses and sparkling expres-",p:61,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"sions of the girls who came to the microphone in",p:61,x:33,y:84,w:292,h:14},
{t:"the local talent contest being held there that eve-",p:61,x:33,y:105,w:294,h:14},
{t:"ning. Each was captured with a few strokes, their",p:61,x:33,y:126,w:292,h:14},
{t:"looks and defining characteristics. What would he",p:61,x:33,y:146,w:294,h:14},
{t:"do with the reigning singer, Hartini Sujono? won-",p:61,x:33,y:167,w:293,h:14},
{t:"dered van Ryssen, but the woman hadn’t ap-",p:61,x:33,y:188,w:293,h:14},
{t:"peared.",p:61,x:33,y:209,w:42,h:14},
{t:"‘So what will you do?’ van Ryssen had said as",p:61,x:51,y:233,w:275,h:14},
{t:"they drove back to the Mess late that night. ‘Will",p:61,x:33,y:254,w:292,h:14},
{t:"you join us?’ But Henshall had only laughed, and",p:61,x:33,y:275,w:293,h:14},
{t:"thanked van Ryssen for a pleasant day. That was",p:61,x:33,y:296,w:293,h:14},
{t:"insufficient, van Ryssen thought, but he saw his",p:61,x:33,y:316,w:293,h:14},
{t:"visitor off just the same on the ear ly morning flight.",p:61,x:33,y:337,w:292,h:14},
{t:"Now the man had returned, more for Hartini Sujono",p:61,x:33,y:358,w:293,h:14},
{t:"than any career advancement.",p:61,x:33,y:379,w:171,h:14},
{t:"Van Ryssen’s watch said three-thirty, giving",p:61,x:51,y:427,w:274,h:14},
{t:"them two hours of daylight. There was a single hut",p:61,x:33,y:448,w:293,h:14},
{t:"they’d passed a mile or two back, perched on stilts",p:61,x:33,y:469,w:292,h:14},
{t:"near the river, but a tiger would demolish that in a",p:61,x:33,y:490,w:293,h:14},
{t:"59",p:62,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"single leap. Their previous campsite was little bet-",p:62,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"ter, and was five or more hours’ walk away, by",p:62,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"tracks that often skirted thick foliage and under-",p:62,x:42,y:84,w:292,h:14},
{t:"growth. They were better off staying put. No attack",p:62,x:42,y:105,w:292,h:14},
{t:"tonight, and they’d be safe for the trip. Meanwhile",p:62,x:42,y:126,w:294,h:14},
{t:"they had to take precautions. There were no caves",p:62,x:42,y:146,w:294,h:14},
{t:"in this region, van Ryssen explained, and a stock-",p:62,x:42,y:167,w:293,h:14},
{t:"ade would take too long to build, even with the",p:62,x:42,y:188,w:294,h:14},
{t:"chainsaw. Their best course was to build a large",p:62,x:42,y:209,w:293,h:14},
{t:"fire and get up an adjacent tree, a high, smooth",p:62,x:42,y:230,w:292,h:14},
{t:"tree, as tigers were ag ile, even above g round.",p:62,x:42,y:250,w:256,h:14},
{t:"Van Ryssen waited. His speech had made no",p:62,x:61,y:275,w:274,h:14},
{t:"impression. ‘Ia, Tuan Marinus. Baik-lah ’, had said",p:62,x:42,y:296,w:292,h:14},
{t:"his chief hand, but he hadn’t stirred himself, any",p:62,x:42,y:316,w:293,h:14},
{t:"more than the others, who’d all weighed up van",p:62,x:42,y:337,w:294,h:14},
{t:"Ryssen with a tense, wary look. Beyond all ques-",p:62,x:42,y:358,w:292,h:14},
{t:"tion of face, van Ryssen had to make a p lan, and",p:62,x:42,y:379,w:293,h:14},
{t:"carry it through.",p:62,x:42,y:400,w:89,h:14},
{t:"Over the jungle canopy upstream he could see",p:62,x:61,y:424,w:274,h:14},
{t:"a tall hardwood that would have p rovided safety,",p:62,x:42,y:445,w:293,h:14},
{t:"but he didn’t want to venture that distance alone.",p:62,x:42,y:466,w:293,h:14},
{t:"On the edge of the open ground where several",p:62,x:42,y:486,w:293,h:14},
{t:"60",p:63,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"forest giants had fallen was what he wanted: a tree",p:63,x:33,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"that rose straight for thirty feet before opening into",p:63,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"an umbrella of branches. Decision made, van",p:63,x:33,y:84,w:294,h:14},
{t:"Ryssen got his team to arm themselves with",p:63,x:33,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"spears cut from sharpened bamboo. That done, he",p:63,x:33,y:126,w:294,h:14},
{t:"walked over and began the slow task of cutting",p:63,x:33,y:146,w:292,h:14},
{t:"notches in the trunk, heaving himself up with the",p:63,x:33,y:167,w:295,h:14},
{t:"field-rope. An hour passed. The gibbons had",p:63,x:33,y:188,w:293,h:14},
{t:"stopped whooping, and the air was filled with an",p:63,x:33,y:209,w:293,h:14},
{t:"intense silence. Van Ryssen felt exposed and ab-",p:63,x:33,y:230,w:292,h:14},
{t:"surd, but there was no alternative to continuing, and",p:63,x:33,y:250,w:293,h:14},
{t:"when he finally gained the branches he rested a few",p:63,x:33,y:271,w:293,h:14},
{t:"minutes before abseiling down to collect the party.",p:63,x:33,y:292,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Only the chief hand came at first, but once the",p:63,x:51,y:316,w:275,h:14},
{t:"fire was going and the soft gloom of even ing began",p:63,x:33,y:337,w:293,h:14},
{t:"to fill the clearing, the other members drifted",p:63,x:33,y:358,w:293,h:14},
{t:"across. The chainsaw, the heavy sample bags and",p:63,x:33,y:379,w:292,h:14},
{t:"rucksacks were hoisted aloft, and the men them-",p:63,x:33,y:400,w:292,h:14},
{t:"selves clambered up, away from the comforting",p:63,x:33,y:420,w:292,h:14},
{t:"warmth of the fire. A primus was wedged into an",p:63,x:33,y:441,w:294,h:14},
{t:"upper fork, and water put on to boil. Confidence",p:63,x:33,y:462,w:293,h:14},
{t:"returned, and there was talk of someone going",p:63,x:33,y:483,w:292,h:14},
{t:"61",p:64,x:181,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"down to cut more timber. But no one volunteered,",p:64,x:42,y:42,w:292,h:14},
{t:"and van Ryssen couldn’t insist. As tea was handed",p:64,x:42,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"round, however, and van Ryssen reached over, he",p:64,x:42,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"saw the mug sail upwards as a screeching howl",p:64,x:42,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"flattened the air.",p:64,x:42,y:126,w:91,h:14},
{t:"Nothing had changed, though the sound came",p:64,x:61,y:150,w:275,h:14},
{t:"again, closer, now punctuated by a sharp, honking",p:64,x:42,y:170,w:293,h:14},
{t:"cough. Even the crew couldn’t believe this was a",p:64,x:42,y:191,w:293,h:14},
{t:"spirit, could they? The dwindling fire threw out",p:64,x:42,y:212,w:293,h:14},
{t:"uncertain spreads of light but nothing was moving",p:64,x:42,y:233,w:293,h:14},
{t:"on the ground. In bewilderment, van Ryssen turned",p:64,x:42,y:254,w:293,h:14},
{t:"to his chief hand, and found himself looking at a",p:64,x:42,y:275,w:293,h:14},
{t:"dark shape picking its way through a fallen tree",p:64,x:42,y:296,w:293,h:14},
{t:"some forty yards away.",p:64,x:42,y:316,w:131,h:14},
{t:"Van Ryssen made as though to get up, but",p:64,x:61,y:340,w:274,h:14},
{t:"found himself rooted to the spot. Again he tried to",p:64,x:42,y:361,w:293,h:14},
{t:"call out, and heard a strange voice shouting for the",p:64,x:42,y:382,w:294,h:14},
{t:"facing branches to be cut off. The words were ig-",p:64,x:42,y:403,w:293,h:14},
{t:"nored, the men hugging their positions. Uncer-",p:64,x:42,y:424,w:293,h:14},
{t:"tainly, van Ryssen got to his feet, and scrambled to",p:64,x:42,y:445,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the branch nearest. ‘Memotong disini! Cut!’ he said.",p:64,x:42,y:466,w:293,h:14},
{t:"‘Cut here!’ He drew out his",p:64,x:42,y:486,w:173,h:14},
{t:"parang and began",p:64,x:223,y:486,w:112,h:14},
{t:"62",p:65,x:172,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"chopping furiously. From the corner of his eye he",p:65,x:33,y:42,w:293,h:14},
{t:"could see the an imal as it came nearer, the stripes",p:65,x:33,y:63,w:293,h:14},
{t:"puckering into a frown as the whiskers parted and",p:65,x:33,y:84,w:293,h:14},
{t:"the tiger slowly unmeshed its teeth. ‘Well, do some-",p:65,x:33,y:105,w:293,h:14},
{t:"thing with that bamboo, can’t you?’ he shouted to",p:65,x:33,y:126,w:294,h:14},
{t:"the nearest hand. ‘Godverdomme!’ he exclaimed,",p:65,x:33,y:146,w:292,h:14},
{t:"and grabbed the weapon. ‘Hold it like this,’ he said,",p:65,x:33,y:167,w:293,h:14},
{t:"‘with the end anchored in the tree. Do something,",p:65,x:33,y:188,w:293,h:14},
{t:"for Christ’s sake!’ Van Ryssen was fixing the end",p:65,x:33,y:209,w:292,h:14},
{t:"into a fork when the spear was suddenly knocked",p:65,x:33,y:230,w:293,h:14},
{t:"from his grasp as the an imal landed among them in",p:65,x:33,y:250,w:292,h:14},
{t:"the branches.",p:65,x:33,y:271,w:78,h:14},
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